The Museum Guild is a group of undergraduate students from local colleges and universities who are advocates and ambassadors for the RISD Museum and interpreters of its collection and exhibitions. Working as a group and with the guidance of the museum's Academic Programs staff, Guild members explore questions of current relevance at the museum, developing projects and programs that activate the galleries and connect students and faculty to the museum.
What do you mean by “projects and programs”?
Guild members develop ways of interpreting the museum’s collections and exhibitions for public audiences through talks, artist-led experiments, interactive activities, performances, digital or physical publications, or any other format they dream up. Members also serve as a bridge between the museum and the student body at their respective institution, sharing relevant student projects and concerns with museum staff and promoting museum events and opportunities.
What kind of commitment is this?
Guild members are encouraged to serve in the group until graduation, and are responsible for managing self-directed work that the museum and other group members will rely on. This might be a match for you if you are able to direct your extracurricular time and energy toward this group. Guild members are provided with a stipend based on attendance and participation.
Okay, I can handle responsibility. What’s in it for me?
Guild members gain unprecedented insight into museum interpretation, particularly programming, and develop individualized skills, like public speaking, facilitation, and writing. They gain short- and long-term project management skills that are transferable to a variety of career goals. We’re looking for students with a wide range of skills, interests, and future plans; the Guild is not intended as a precursor to a career as a museum professional. (If you’re looking for that type of pre-professional experience, check out our summer internships and HAVC fellowships.)
When does Guild meet?
The Guild meets weekly as a group on Monday evenings; small working groups of 3-4 members meet independently in additional to this meeting time.
Applications will be considered on a rolling basis through September 13, 2019. Contact museum-academic@risd.edu with questions.