RISD Museum invites local artists and designers working in any medium to apply for the 2020 artist fellowship. One selected artist will receive a stipend of $10,000, professional-development support, and the opportunity to work closely with our collections and staff members to realize a proposed project rooted in object-based research. The RISD Museum was founded with a core mission of inspiring artists and designers. By supporting the local creative community, the Museum and its audiences are fueled by the imagination and innovation of the artists and designers it serves.
We aspire to create an accessible and inclusive environment that builds meaningful relationships across all communities. We recognize that museums are not neutral spaces and that our collections reflect power structures of exclusion, and our current work aims to offer an expanded view of artists, art-making and history. This year’s fellowship aligns with the 50th anniversary of the exhibition Raid the Icebox I with Andy Warhol, a landmark example of using the museum as a site for critical, creative production. We encourage this year’s applicants to develop an artist research project that questions dominant narratives and traditional practices.
The artist fellow will have the opportunity to explore new ideas and ways of working that challenge conventional methodologies. The fellow will investigate Museum collections, with support and mentorship from curatorial staff, conservators, and educators, and engage in research that benefits their personal practice and delves deeply into ideas, materials, and processes. The artist fellow will be invited to participate in staff meetings, projects, and activities that help build a diverse and inclusive community.
To expand their knowledge and art-making skills, the fellow will have access to a range of resources at RISD, including support from Museum staff and access to RISD faculty, technicians, and libraries. The fellow may audit select RISD Graduate Studies courses. In collaboration with Museum staff, the fellow will share their work with the public through talks, demonstrations, performances, publications, or other formats. The proposed project shapes and defines the fellow’s time at the Museum and research requirements. A budget of $2,000 or less is offered toward project expenses.
Application deadline is October 7. For more information and to apply, visit RISD Museum’s Artist Fellowship page.