Rhode Island School of Design

Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), founded in 1877 in Providence, RI, is a vibrant community of artists and designers that includes 2,200 students from around the world, approximately 350 faculty and curators, and 400 staff members. Each year more than 200 prominent artists, critics, authors and philosophers visit our historic College Hill campus.




Mission
RISD fulfills its contemporary mission by providing the highest quality instruction in the visual arts, design, architecture and art education to prepare its students and the broader community to be creative and responsive to the needs of a global society.




History

The Centennial Women were a group formed to raise funds for Rhode Island's exhibit at the Centennial Exposition in 1876. The group had $1,675 left over after the exposition, and, inspired by foreign exhibits on design and interior decorating, Helen Adelia Rowe Metcalf persuaded the group to donate the money to found what would become the Rhode Island School of Design. The school was incorporated in 1877 and opened its doors the following fall. Metcalf directed the school until her death in 1895. Her daughter, Eliza Greene Metcalf Radeke, then took over until her death in 1931.

The Rhode Island General Assembly ratified “An Act to Incorporate the Rhode Island School of Design” on March 22, 1877. “For the purpose of aiding in the cultivation of the arts of design.” Over the next 129 years, the following original by-laws set forth these following primary objectives :
First. The instruction of artisans in drawing, painting, modeling, and designing, that they may successfully apply the principles of Art to the requirements of trade and manufacture. Second. The systematic training of students in the practice of Art, in order that they may understand its principles, give instruction to others, or become artists.
Third. The general advancement of public Art Education, by the exhibition of works of Art and of Art school studies, and by lectures on Art.

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Rhode Island School of Design Art School Location

Other art schools in Providence

Rhode Island College (Art Department) The Department of Art provides a dynamic environment for learning. Students and faculty maintain high standards in a competitive yet supportive commun... Address: 600 Mount Pleasant Avenue

Brown University (Department of History of Art and Architecture) The Department of the History of Art & Architecture at Brown University grants undergraduate degrees in the History of Art and Architecture, as well a... Address: 64 College St.

Providence College (Art and Art History) Our curriculum has been planned to provide a thorough experience in Studio Art and Art History within the context of a comprehensive liberal arts envi... Address: 549 River Avenue

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