In this episode of 87:60, BJ Kito talks with Joe Wilson Jr., Director of Providence’s Department of Art, Culture and Tourism, about what it actually takes to build a city people want to stay in, not just visit. From permitting and producing major public events like PVDFest to stewarding public art, nightlife strategy, and World Cup fan activations, Joe breaks down why “visitor experience” only works when it protects the real capital: the people. The conversation unpacks activation of public space, lighting as a character in cities, cultural heritage tourism, and why New England’s strength isn’t in competing state by state, but in telling a shared regional story that turns proximity into momentum.