Established in 1877, the RISD Museum is a dynamic space for creative exploration, learning, and community engagement. We unlock the creative process by integrating art, design, and education, inviting active participation in the making and meaning of art. Spanning cultures from ancient times to the present, our collection fosters accessibility, inclusion, and meaningful connections across communities.
Our Mission
The RISD Museum unlocks the creative process, empowers audiences to participate actively in the meaning and making of art and design, and envisions a world where artistic innovation thrives.
Our Vision
The RISD Museum will build a future where art and design are integral to a more inclusive, vibrant and sustainable world, connecting a global community of creators and learners.
Our Values
Welcoming – We celebrate the vast spectrum of human expression and experience, creating spaces where everyone feels valued and empowered to engage with art. We embrace the gifts, voices and power of all, and we are changed by their presence.
Curious – We invite exploration, engagement, and joy. We want everyone to encounter art in new and unexpected ways, making the museum a place where learning is a playful and spirited adventure.
Collaborative – We encourage vibrant conversations and collaborations, making the museum a dynamic hub where ideas flourish. Through shared experiences and dialogue, we recognize the interwoven power of art, design, and community.
Bold – We champion the new, the fearless, and the unexplored, fostering a spirit of experimentation and innovation. We appreciate art as a catalyst for social, political, and personal change, inspiring action. We challenge assumptions, explore new ideas, and push the boundaries of creative expression.
Our Collection
Our collection currently contains more than 100,000 works of art and design dating from ancient times to today including paintings, sculpture, decorative arts, costume and textiles, and furniture from all over the world. Of these objects, 2,317 of them are on view in the Museum now, 85,247 of them are available online, and there are 1,914 recent acquisitions.
The RISD Museum provides free access to digital images of public domain materials in the collection for any purpose. We want our collection, scholarship, and interpretive content to be accessed, distributed, and reused by everyone.
Our Strategic Initiatives
2025-2030 Strategic Plan: Charting the RISD Museum’s path forward, this five-year plan envisions a future of growth, deeper engagement, and lasting impact.
Social Equity and Inclusion Work Plan: This plan drives our efforts to create a more inclusive, equitable, and welcoming museum for all.
Climate Emergency and Sustainability Statement: Recognizing the urgent need for action, we pledge to embrace sustainable practices and environmental stewardship in all that we do.
Year in Review: A look back at our latest fiscal year (July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024), celebrating the ways we connect with art, artists, and communities—and the support that makes it possible.
Our Leadership
The Museum Board of Governors and Fine Arts Committee provides oversight of the RISD Museum on behalf of RISD’s Board of Trustees and assists and supports the Museum in fulfilling its mission to acquire, preserve, exhibit, and interpret works of art and design representing diverse cultures from ancient times to the present.
Contact us
You belong here. We aspire to create an accessible and inclusive place for all. Share your experience with us at [email protected]. See our staff directory for additional ways to get in touch.