The RISD Museum believes that art, artists, and the institutions that support them play pivotal roles in promoting broad civic engagement and creating more open societies.
Established in 1877 as part of a vibrant creative community, the RISD Museum stewards works of art representing diverse cultures from ancient times to the present. We interpret our collection with the focus on the maker and we deeply engage with art and artists, presenting ideas and perspectives that can be inspiring and complex. We aspire to create an accessible and inclusive environment that fosters meaningful relationships across all communities.
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, 2,408 of them are on view in the Museum now, 84,820 of them are available online, and there are 1,629 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: A commitment to confronting racism and injustice, 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 museum@risd.edu. See our staff directory for additional ways to get in touch.