Hi neighbors,
 
It is officially the last week of the spring semester at RISD!
 
This time of year is a whirlwind for faculty, staff, and students as they work to showcase pieces and projects that could be the culmination of a semester of work, or, for our graduating students, four years of study and practice. As we begin to see the number of new positive COVID cases decline, vaccinations rise, and gathering restrictions lifted, we are excited that we will be able to officially celebrate the Class of 2021 with a small in-person celebration for students only. It is not a full return to our Commencement traditions, but we are committed to honoring this year’s graduating students in ways that are meaningful and safe, given current circumstances. (You can read more about the plans below! )
 
In a recent email to the campus community, retiring President Somerson praised the dedication of our students, faculty and staff in navigating the complexities of the last year, saying, “As I look back, the overwhelming emotion I feel about the past year is pride—pride in our students who did not bow in the face of fear and chaos; pride in our faculty, who dug deep into their creative wells and their unwavering teaching commitments to rethink our model of education; and pride in the staff and colleagues who worked tirelessly around the clock to support our operations and health and safety.”
 
In the coming months I will share more about RISD’s fall opening plan, but in the meantime, if you have a question or concern that you would like to be addressed, please feel free to reach out. Also, I would love to include more neighbors and friends! Do you know others who might be interested in receiving periodic updates from RISD? Please feel free to forward this email and encourage them to join the email list!
 
Sincerely,
Bethany Costello
Director of Community Engagement

Interim President Announced

The Board of Trustees has appointed Senior Vice President of Finance & Administration Dave Proulx to serve as RISD’s Interim President from July 1 until the arrival of our 18th president. In a letter to the campus community this week,  Michael Spalter, chair of RISD’s Board of Trustees, wrote, “Since joining our community in 2018, after 25 years of working in higher education, Dave has worked tirelessly to significantly improve RISD’s financial and administrative processes, promote transparency in RISD’s financial management and budget, and create structures to provide community input on financial and administrative decisions. During the pandemic, Dave helped us persevere through the greatest financial and operational challenge in our history. As our interim president, he will focus on a successful opening of the campus in Fall 2021 and continued progress on RISD’s strategic plan.  The Board and I have every confidence that Dave will expertly guide us forward while our presidential search is underway.” Read more

Commencement 2021

This year RISD will host a Commencement event that includes both an online speaking program and an in-person processional and degree conferral as a way for the Class of 2021 to safely celebrate their accomplishments together. The in-person procession will be the capstone of a larger virtual event featuring a keynote address by artist and designer Virgil Abloh, as well as the presentation of Honorary Degrees to Elizabeth Diller, partner at Diller Scofidio + Renfro (DS+R); RISD alumnus, contemporary street artist, graphic designer, activist, illustrator, DJ and founder of OBEY Giant Art and OBEY Clothing Shepard Fairey [BFA 92 Illustration]; and playwright and screenwriter Lynn Nottage. Both the speaking program and processional will be streamed online. Read more

COVID Update 

RISD will maintain all current health and safety protocols, including testing, mask wearing and physical distancing for both vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals through at least the beginning of summer for those on campus. Students will be required to be vaccinated by August 1 to return to campus, and staff are being strongly encouraged to receive a COVID-19 vaccine to ensure our campus and surrounding community remains healthy in the weeks and months ahead.  Read more

2021 Collection Show 

RISD's Apparel Design department will present its annual show spotlighting the talent of the 19 students graduating this spring via multiple video screens across campus May 21–30, 2021. This will be the first time that RISD offers a free peek into the Apparel Senior Show, as many of the screens will be viewable from Providence’s streets. Read more

Revitalizing the Metcalf Building

Through a gift from an anonymous donor, RISD will begin critical improvements to the Jesse Metcalf Building, located in the heart of campus at 7–14 North Main Street. Since 1917 the Metcalf Building has served as a core facility for teaching art and design, a home for generations of student makers and a laboratory for material experimentation and creative expression. The former textile factory supports deep connections between art, design, and industrial production as home to six departments that flow into each other -  Ceramics, Furniture Design, Glass, Jewelry + Metalsmithing, Sculpture, and Textiles.  Read more
 

Who Painted the Electric Boxes in PVD?

The Boston Globe recently highlighted a collaboration between RISD students, local artists and The Avenue Concept in transforming dull utility boxes into works of art. Read more

Take a RISD Continuing Education Summer Class 

RISD Continuing Education has launched 160+ online courses—offered in both live and asynchronous formats—for adults, teens, college students and high school students. Most of these courses can be taken from anywhere in the world, at any time of day or night! Read more

Engage with the RISD Museum 

Creative Jam Sessions for Teens (45 minutes, 10-15 students each session)
Take a break from summer classes, jobs, etc. to nurture your creative side. Join other creative peers in a jam session of artistic exercises and experiments. These 45-minute adventures will be happening throughout the summer at times that work best for you. The ideas and thoughts generated in each session will result in a custom package of materials and supplies sent to you to get your art-making on! Read More
 
Connect Through Art Anywhere
Check out ways that art and design in the RISD Museum’s collection can support and connect us as we shift where and how we learn. These activities, prompts, and guides are developed for young children, teens, parents, caregivers, and teachers. Download Explorations in Art & Design, a series of creative activities for all ages inspired by objects in the RISD Museum collection. Read more