AS220 was founded in 1985 by Umberto Crenca, alongside Susan Clausen and Scott Seabolt as a space for artists and performers to exhibit their work in an uncensored and unjuried venue.
Umberto and a group of artists had been frustrated by conditions in the Rhode Island arts community which made access and success difficult for those outside the Rhode Island School of Design and initiatives backed by local government.
In response, they wrote a manifesto and formed AS220 with an emphasis on openness and access.

AS220 began as an unofficial artists' space at 220 Weybosset Street in downtown Providence, above the Providence Performing Arts Center, incorporating its address into its name.
It grew to a collection of seven studios, a gallery, and a performance stage and expanded to Richmond Street.

In 1992, AS220 acquired its own 21,000 square foot building on 95-121 Empire Street, which it renovated in order to create a space for a mixed-use arts center including resident artists, a performance space and gallery, and resident companies like Groundwerx Dance Company and Perishable Theater.
The development of the Empire Street facility is credited in part with the creation of an arts and entertainment District in Providence.
In 2015, after serving 30 years as Artistic Director, Crenca transferred his leadership role to Shey Rivera Ríos .
AS220 was founded in 1985 by Umberto Crenca, alongside Susan Clausen and Scott Seabolt as a space for artists and performers to exhibit their work in an uncensored and unjuried venue. Umberto and a group of artists had been frustrated by conditions in the Rhode Island arts community which made access and success difficult for those outside the Rhode Island School of Design and initiatives backed by local government. In response, they wrote a manifesto and formed AS220 with an emphasis on openness and access.
AS220 began as an unofficial artists' space at 220 Weybosset Street in downtown Providence, above the Providence Performing Arts Center, incorporating its address into its name. It grew to a collection of seven studios, a gallery, and a performance stage and expanded to Richmond Street.
In 1992, AS220 acquired its own 21,000 square foot building on 95-121 Empire Street, which it renovated in order to create a space for a mixed-use arts center including resident artists, a performance space and gallery, and resident companies like Groundwerx Dance Company and Perishable Theater. The development of the Empire Street facility is credited in part with the creation of an arts and entertainment District in Providence. In 2015, after serving 30 years as Artistic Director, Crenca transferred his leadership role to Shey Rivera Ríos .
AS220