The Rhode Island School of Design’s Museum of Art, or The RISD Museum, as it’s known, is an off-site star of the "Creative Capital."
Two years ago the museum completed Chace Center, a new 6,000-square-foot gallery wing.
"This allows the museum to now display 2 percent, up from 1 percent, of all its art holdings," says Brian Hodge, marketing coordinator for the Providence-Warwick CVB.
Make no mistake. That’s a lot of art. With the addition, the museum can spotlight a total of 84,000 works of art.
Meanwhile, the museum’s entrance was recently moved to South Main Street, allowing for more visibility.
"The entrance is now right along the river, and the area is beautiful," says Neil Schriever, senior vice president for the Providence-Warwick CVB. "It’s easier to see for visitors who aren’t familiar with our city."
The museum has hosted intimate dinners as well as bigger events for 6,000 people.
"People are surprised when they learn that a museum of this size can be so flexible and accommodating to small or large groups," Schriever says.
Group tours can be scheduled at least four weeks in advance for guided visits and two weeks in advance for self-guided group visits. Up to 60 visitors can be accommodated at one time.
The museum is composed of five buildings on a sloping city block between Main and Benefit streets on the historic East Side of the city. The first public galleries were created in 1893 in the Waterman building, which today highlights 19th century American paintings and changing exhibitions. Pendleton House, the country’s first museum wing devoted to the display of American decorative arts, was built in 1906. The Eliza G. Radeke building was added in 1926 and houses permanent collection galleries, from Egyptian and Ancient art, through Impressionism and into 20th century art and design. The Daphne Farago wing, erected in 1993, displays contemporary art.
