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Part of Locally Made's One Room.
During Office Hours, artists, designers, experts, and brainiacs take the doors off of their offices and studios. Stop by for conversation or advice.
Drop by for a casual conversation with the director of the RISD Museum, John Smith, to hear about future plans. Offer stories of your own museum experiences, provide feedback, and imagine the possibilities.
Free with museum admission.
John W. Smith joined the Museum of Art Rhode Island School of Design in September 2011, where he has devoted his attention to strengthening the Museum's relationship with the College and the community, expanding access through increased free admission policies, overseeing the design and development of new online initiatives, and expanding the Museum's curatorial expertise. From 2006 to 2011, he served as director of the Smithsonian Institution's Archives of American Art, the world's leading research center devoted to the study of the visual arts of America. During his tenure, the Archives undertook a major initiative to increase online access to the collection. Smith also established the Archives first programs for publications and traveling exhibitions. Prior to the Archives of American Art, Smith served for 11 years at The Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, as assistant director for collections, exhibitions, and research; he also served as interim director of the museum from 1995 to 1996. While at the Warhol Museum, Smith organized numerous exhibitions and published extensively on Warhol and his circle. In addition, Smith served as chief archivist at the Art Institute of Chicago (1990–1994), visiting archivist at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, London (1991), and as founding curator of special collections and archives at the Chicago Park District (1988–1990). Smith received his B.A. in English at Southern Illinois University, and did graduate work at the University of Illinois.