Rhode Island School of Design

Rhode Island School of Design
Type Private art school
Established 1877
Endowment $328.3 million[1]
President Rosanne Somerson
Academic staff
 146 full-time
336 part-time
Students 2,282
Undergraduates 1,883
Postgraduates 399
Location Providence, Rhode Island, USA
Campus Urban
13 acres (53,000 m²)
Acceptance rate 37.2% (2015)
Mascot Scrotie
Affiliations AICAD
Website risd.edu

Rhode Island School of Design (RISD, /ˈrɪzdiː/) is a fine arts and design college located in Providence, in the U.S. state of Rhode Island. It has been ranked among the best art and design universities in the United States.[2][3][4][5]

Founded in 1877, it is located at the base of College Hill; the RISD campus is contiguous with the Brown University campus. The two institutions share social, academic, and community resources and offer joint courses. Applicants to RISD are required to complete RISD's famous two-drawing "hometest", one of which involves the trademark RISD bicycle drawing.

It includes, on the Fall 2015 term, about 470 faculty and curators, and 400 staff members. About 2,014 undergraduates and 467 graduate students enroll from all over the United States and 57 other countries. It offers 16 undergraduate majors and 17 graduate majors. RISD is a member of the Association of Independent Colleges of Art and Design (AICAD), a consortium of thirty-six leading art schools in the United States. It also maintains over 80,000 works of art in the RISD Museum.

History

Museum of Art
RISD Memorial Hall

The Centennial Women[6] were a group formed to raise funds for a separate Women's Pavilion showcasing women's work at the 1876 Centennial Exposition.[7] In a little over a year the RI women raised over $10,000 with spectacles such a recreation of the burning of the Gaspee that drew a crowd of 9000, the writing and publication of a monthly newspaper, Herald of the Century, and an art exhibition. The Women's Pavilion at the 1876 Centennial successfully highlighted women's "economic right to self-sufficiency" and included exhibits from recently founded design schools, displays of new patents by women entrepreneurs, and a library containing only books written by women. The Rhode Island Centennial Women submitted their newspaper, Herald of the Century, to this Women's Pavilion's library.

RISD auditorium
RISD Store

At the end of the World's Fair, the RI Centennial Women had $1,675 left over and spent some time negotiating how best to memorialize their achievements.[7] Helen Adelia Rowe Metcalf proposed that the group donate the money to found what would become the Rhode Island School of Design, and this option was chosen by a majority of the women on January 11, 1877. The school was incorporated in March 1877[8] and opened its doors the following fall at the Hoppin Homestead in downtown Providence, RI.[9] Metcalf directed the school until her death in 1895. Her daughter, Eliza Greene Metcalf Radeke, then took over until her death in 1931.[10]

RISD College Building

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.

Programs of study

Rankings

The Design Center

RISD is annually ranked as the top art and design school in the United States. U.S. News & World Report ranked RISD first amongst Fine Arts programs, above Yale University and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.[11] In 2015, RISD has been ranked 3rd by the QS World University Rankings amongst Art & Design programs.[12] Within subdivisions of Fine Arts, the school was ranked 1st in graphic design, printmaking and industrial design; 2nd in painting; and 3rd in ceramics and photography.[13]

Concentrations

Concentrations at RISD do not confer a degree; they act like minors at other education institutions and require courses in the chosen field.

RISD Museum

The RISD Museum houses a collection of fine and decorative art objects. The first public galleries opened in 1893.

Past presidents

Rosanne Somerson 2015–present
John Maeda2008–2013
E. Roger Mandle1993–2008
Louis A. Fazzano1992–1993 (interim president)
Thomas F. Schutte1983–1992
Lee Hall1976–1983
Talbot Rantoul1969–1976
Donald M. Lay, Jr.1968–1969 (interim president)
Albert Bush-Brown1962–1968
John R. Frazier1955–1962
Max W. Sullivan1947–1955
Helen Metcalf Danforth1931–1947
Eliza Greene Metcalf Radeke1913–1931
Isaac Comstock Bates1907–1913
William Carey Poland1896–1907
Herbert Warren Ladd1891–1896
Alfred Henry LittlefieldJune 11–27, 1890 (resigned)
Royal Chapin Taft1888–1890
Claudius Buchanan Farnsworth1877–1888

Fleet Library

Founded in 1878, the RISD Library is one of the oldest independent art college libraries in the country. Its more than 145,000 volumes and 380 periodical subscriptions offer unusual depth and richness in the areas of architecture, art, design and photography. The collection provides strong historical and contemporary perspectives, and materials in landscape architecture, ceramics, textiles, and jewelry support upper-level research. The library is also noted for its artist’s book collection, its rare books and outstanding visual resources collections.

A nationally award-winning example of adaptive reuse, this 55,000-sf renovated bank building and second floor houses 130,000 books, 685,000 image and sound holdings, and 1,200 artists books.

Students also have access to Brown University libraries and the Providence Athenaeum.

Nature Lab

Edna W. Lawrence founded the Nature Lab[15] at Rhode Island School of Design in 1937. Lawrence graduated from RISD in 1920 and began teaching at RISD in 1922.[16] The Nature Lab is a collection of plant, bird, marine, and animal specimens, many of which circulate to RISD students and faculty for use in their studios. The Arthur Loeb Science Design collection is housed in the Nature Lab and includes three-dimensional geometric models and two-dimensional patterns found in the natural world.

Notable alumni

XYZ Magazine

XYZ Magazine is RISD's primary print publication by and about the school's alumni. It was first published in May 2010, replacing the college’s original magazine risd views (1995–2009). The magazine encourages the participating of its alumni with the mission "to keep readers informed about the people, projects and passions that make RISD’s creative community so special." The magazine is published twice a year - in November and May.[17]

Notable current and past faculty

Honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts

* Commencement speaker

2015[18]
2014[19]
2013[20]
2012[21]
2011[22]
2010[23]
2009[24]
2008[25]
2007[26]
2005[27]
2004[28]
2003[29]
2002[30]
2001
2000
1999
1998
1997
1996
1995
1994
1993
1992
1991
1990
1988[31]
1987
1986[32]
1983[33]

References

  1. ↑ As of June 30, 2014. "Rhode Island School of Design Consolidated Financial Statements June 30, 2014 and 2013" (PDF). Rhode Island School of Design. Retrieved April 10, 2015.
  2. ↑ "The World's 25 Best Design Schools", Business Insider, retrieved 2015-03-06
  3. ↑ "Top 10 Art Universities and Schools in the United States", Education Portal, retrieved 2015-03-06
  4. ↑ "Best Fine Arts Program", US News, retrieved 2015-03-06
  5. ↑ "Rhode Island School of Design", Britannica, retrieved 2015-03-06
  6. ↑ Austin, Nancy. Towards a Genealogy of Visual Culture at the Rhode Island School of Design, 1875-1900. Dissertation, Brown University. Ann Arbor: ProQuest/UMI, 2009. (Publication No. 3370099.)
  7. 1 2 Austin, Nancy. “What a Beginning is Worth”. Infinite Radius. Ed. Dawn Barrett and Andrew Martinez. (Providence: Rhode Island School of Design, 2008) 170-196.
  8. ↑ Austin, Nancy. “No Honors to Divide”. Infinite Radius. Ed. Dawn Barrett and Andrew Martinez. (Providence: Rhode Island School of Design, 2008) 197-217.
  9. ↑ Austin, Nancy. “A Place for Design: RISD at the Hoppin Homestead, 1878-1893.” Towards a Genealogy of Visual Culture at the Rhode Island School of Design, 1875-1900. Dissertation, Brown University. Ann Arbor: ProQuest/UMI, 2009. (Publication No. 3370099.)
  10. ↑ Kirk, Laura Meade (2004-03-21). "From bonnets to baccalaureates". The Providence Journal. Retrieved 2007-10-17.
  11. ↑ "Rhode Island School of Design | RISD | Best College | US News". Colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com. Retrieved 2015-03-06.
  12. ↑ QS World University Rankings http://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings/university-subject-rankings/2015/art-design#sorting=rank+region=+country=+faculty=+stars=false+search=. Retrieved 14 August 2015. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  13. ↑ "Rhode Island School of Design | Overall Rankings | Best College | US News". Colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com. Retrieved 2015-03-06.
  14. ↑ "Concentration | Literary Arts Studies | Academics | RISD". Risd.edu. Retrieved 2015-03-06.
  15. ↑ "the Nature Lab". naturelab.risd.edu. Retrieved 2015-04-27.
  16. ↑ "Edna W. Lawrence, 88; Professor Emerita at RISD Had Taught There for 53 Years.". Obituaries. Providence Journal. 28 July 1987.
  17. ↑ "RISD Alumni Community - XYZ Magazine". Alumni.risd.edu. Retrieved 2015-03-06.
  18. ↑ "RISD". Risd.edu. Retrieved 2015-06-02.
  19. ↑ "RISD". Risd.edu. Retrieved 2015-06-02.
  20. ↑ "RISD". Risd.edu. Retrieved 2015-06-02.
  21. ↑ "Global Luminaries Honored at Commencement 2012 | News | About | RISD". Risd.edu. Retrieved 2015-03-06.
  22. ↑ "RISD". Risd.edu. Retrieved 2015-03-06.
  23. ↑ "Ruth Simmons Keynote Address at Commencement | Press Releases | News | About | RISD". Risd.edu. Retrieved 2015-03-06.
  24. ↑ Archived June 2, 2010, at the Wayback Machine.
  25. ↑ Archived July 25, 2010, at the Wayback Machine.
  26. ↑ Archived June 2, 2010, at the Wayback Machine.
  27. ↑ Archived June 3, 2010, at the Wayback Machine.
  28. ↑
  29. ↑ "Dave Hickey Commencement Speaker". Newswise.com. 2003-04-26. Retrieved 2015-03-06.
  30. ↑
  31. ↑ Archived September 7, 2006, at the Wayback Machine.
  32. ↑ Archived October 26, 2007, at the Wayback Machine.
  33. ↑ Archived June 9, 2008, at the Wayback Machine.

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Coordinates: 41°49′33″N 71°24′28″W / 41.82583°N 71.40778°W / 41.82583; -71.40778

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