The role of artists and designers in our economy and culture is at the very heart of the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) and its Museum of Art, also known as the RISD Museum. Even before the Civil War, there were efforts to establish a “permanent Art Museum and gallery of Arts and Design” in Rhode Island. After the war, the state emerged as the most heavily industrialized in the Union and became a leading manufacturer of silverware, jewelry, textiles, and other products that led to a need for arts and design education.^[1] In 1877, The Rhode Island School of Design was founded with a gift, proposed by Helen Adelia Rowe Metcalf, from the Rhode Island Women’s Centennial Commission. From the beginning, as stated in its Act of Incorporation, the school and its museum shared the three objectives of instruction, career training, and “the general advancement of public art education by the collection and exhibition of works of art.” To this day, the RISD Museum remains deeply engaged with its creative community and supports the cultivation of artists, designers, and makers of all kinds through its collection, exhibitions, publications, programming, and, since 2015, the free Rhode Island Artist membership program.

In 2013, Locally Made, the RISD Museum’s first large survey of work from the greater Providence area in more than 20 years, celebrated the varied and vital practice of art and craftsmanship across the region. At the conclusion of the show, an anonymous donor challenged the Museum director to continue providing access to local artists and designers and remain engaged with the creative community who had participated in Locally Made. To this end, this generous donor underwrote free museum membership for all Rhode Island artists and designers and out-of-state artists were offered a discounted Artist membership for $40 a year. In response to the success of the three inaugural years of funded artist memberships, the Museum then made the commitment to continue the program with support of the operating budget.

In tandem with membership efforts, the museum’s education department increased the number of programs designed to reach creative audiences, offering a series of professional opportunities and an annual Artist Development Day. These workshops provide practical training and critical conversation on contemporary creative practice to benefit artists in every stage of their career. RI Artist members are also able to attend a variety of programming from member trips to workshops and lectures. Furthermore, in our galleries, in programs, and through outreach, the museum continues to place materials and process as central to its pedagogical approach.

Free admission and engagement through membership, coupled with programming to foster creative practice, has enabled this program to grow. Since launching the program, the museum has enrolled more than 4,000 Rhode Island Artist members. Currently, active RI Artists account for 62% of all members. Fears that paying members would downgrade to a free membership were disproved (only 47 members downgraded in three years) and RI Artists account for 74% of our new members in the past three years — demonstrating that we are indeed reaching a new audience.

Not without its challenges, the program is administered on the honor system without validation of artist or designer status. We communicate with ineligible applicants (when the residency requirement is not met) and encourage them to purchase an Artist membership. One downside of this program is that accurate contact information is not always provided. Since the volume of RI Artist members accounts for more than half of all memberships, significant staff time is needed to pursue correct data in order to distribute membership cards. To reconcile this program with our sustainability goals, we are considering an e-card or card-free membership option in the future.

The RI Artist membership program has allowed us to fulfill our mission to bring instruction, career training, and public arts education to our community in a meaningful way. In turn, RI Artist members contribute valuable perspective when they engage in our programs, either as participants or as educators. As an artists’ museum for all, we aspire to provide an opportunity to think like an artist when you visit the RISD Museum.