Dorner Prize

About the Dorner Prize

The Dorner Prize is awarded annually to RISD undergraduate or graduate students for a temporary, site-specific project at the RISD Museum. This artistic intervention may take the form of physical, digital, or programmatic encounters that examine or critique the Museum’s historical and contemporary contexts, collections, architectural idiosyncrasies, habits of visitation, and/or web presence.

Submissions are reviewed by a jury of RISD professors and Museum staff; one winner receives a cash prize and implementation funds. The winning artist work with Museum staff during each phase of the development process and are celebrated with online promotion and a public event.

The Dorner Prize, first established in 1995 as the Sitings exhibition, was named for distinguished RISD Museum director Alexander Dorner (tenure 1938–1941), and is made possible by a generous anonymous gift.

Recent winning entries include:
Soft Presence, Hard Absence
Bricked Over Windows
Passive Pollination
Unheard Voices
Fountain
Complete Definitions
Feygeles and Intermediary
White Wall

2025 Cycle
Jurors
Naimah Zulmadelle Pétigny, Ph.D, Shiller Family Assistant Professor of Race in Art and Design, RISD's Department of Literary Arts and Studies
Gabrielle Walker, Nancy Elizabeth Prophet Curatorial Assistant, RISD Museum

Applications OPEN: Monday, December 9, 2024, 12:00 pm EST
Application DEADLINE: Sunday, January 26, 2025, 11:59 pm EST
Late applications are unable to be considered.
Cash Prize: $800; Implementation Funds: up to $1,000

Please direct any questions to museum-academic@risd.edu.

HOW DOES THE COMPETITION WORK?

Who may participate?
Any RISD undergraduate or graduate student may submit a proposal. Collaborations are welcome, and more than one proposal per entrant is allowed. Brown University students may apply with a collaborating RISD student.

How is the winning project selected?
Evaluation of the proposals is based on the following:

  • Content: commentary on or response to Museum contexts, spaces, and/or collection
  • Strength of the proposal: clarity of presentation, adherence to guidelines including the physical and logistical feasibility for creation and installation
  • Originality: sensitivity to site, use of materials
  • Jurors select a group of finalists. Finalists are notified and scheduled to meet with the jurors to discuss their proposals. One proposal is selected as the winner.

What are my responsibilities if I am a winner?

  • Enter into a contract with the Museum specifying responsibilities.
  • Execute the temporary project as presented to the jurors, making only those modifications required and reviewed by the jurors and Museum staff.
  • Participate in at least two scheduled planning meetings and a studio visit with Museum staff.
  • Install and deinstall work under the supervision of the Museum’s registration, security, installation, and digital-content staff, as applicable. The site must be restored to its original state.
  • Share inspiration and process with the public in an informal, brief gallery talk (Work in Process program format) at a mutually convenient time during the spring semester.
WHERE ARE THE SITES + WHAT IS IN THE APPLICATION?

Before you apply:

All proposals must include:

  • Contact Information
  • Project Title
  • Project Site – Select ONE of the following sites that best align with your proposal:
    • In-Person Program/Performance
    • Virtual Program/Performance
    • Digital Project
    • Physical Installation:
      • Interior wall across from front desk, Chace Center lobby, 1st floor
      • Interior wall by Chihuly Glass Chandelier/Ancient Egypt, 6th floor
      • Exterior of the Radeke Building Face on Benefit St.
  • Project Description – Describe your project in 300 words or less. Include how your project: comments on the Museum; engages with the public and impacts the viewer; and was informed by the site’s inherent characteristics 
  • Installation Details – Describe how your project will be experienced and appear in 300 words or less. Include: identification of the site; materials; work plan, along with installation/deinstallation details; and accessibility considerations. State how your project will be implemented and how the site will be returned to its original condition after the installation.
  • Project Visuals – Include sketches, drawings, diagrams, renderings, mock-ups, digital submissions etc. to help the jury understand your vision.
  • Budget – Provide a detailed budget not to exceed $1000 supported by written estimates reflecting the cost of materials, subcontracted labor, and any expenses related to the project, including returning the site to its original condition. Budgets will be carefully reviewed and may be revised. Funds cannot be directly disbursed to the artist. All financial transactions will be handled by the Dorner Prize coordinator, with payments processed through the RISD Business Office.
  • Additional Project Materials (optional) – Include a separate listing all accompanying project materials including any electronic, audio/visual, or other equipment.
  • Environmental and Sustainability Considerations – In 150 words or less, how are you taking into consideration the impact of your project on carbon footprint/climate/environment? What steps can you take to minimize the impact that your project and process will have on the climate emergency?
  • Previous Work Examples – Include up to three images of past work, with titles and dates of work, media, and dimensions. (For those working in collaboration, each artist may submit three visuals of previous work). Redact names on these files.

Proposals must be submitted no later than 11:59 pm (EST) on Sunday, January 26, 2025. Late applications are unable to be considered.

APPLY HERE AFTER READING THE SITE GUIDELINES

WHEN ARE KEY DATES + TIMELINES?

Review the dates below to ensure that you are available for the jury interview, installation planning, installation, and deinstallation. Some interactions may be conducted on Zoom. All times are Eastern Standard Time (EST).

Site tours and office hours
Applicants learn about available spaces for proposals and ask questions before submitting their application.

  • Site Tours - learn about available spaces for projects
    VIRTUAL OPTION on Friday, January 17, 2025, 12:00-1:00 pm EST - Link to join on Zoom
    IN PERSON OPTIONS - Meet in the Chace Center Lobby at 20 N. Main St.
    • Tuesday, January 14, 2025, 12-1 pm
    • Thursday, January 16, 2025, 12-1 pm
  • Office Hours - Drop in to ask questions before submitting your application.
    VIRTUAL OPTION on Wednesday, January 22, 2025, 12:00-1:00 pm EST - Link to join on Zoom
    IN PERSON OPTIONS - Meet in the Chace Center Lobby at 20 N. Main St.
    • Thursday, January  23, 2025, 12:00-1:00 pm

Application deadline: Sunday, January 26, 2025, 11:59 pm EST
Late applications are unable to be considered.

Finalists interviews with jurors
Weeks of February 3 and 10, 2025 (Virtual interviews are 25-30 minutes)

Project planning meeting by appointment
Week of February 17 or 24, 2025

Visit to winning artists’ studios by curator and installation staff by appointment
March 2025 (specific dates TBD)

Installation begins (assistance by Museum staff will be limited and scheduled prior to installation)
Late March or early April 2025 (specific dates TBD)

Dorner Prize open to the public
Early April 2025 (specific dates TBD)

Public gallery talk reflecting on projects
During April 2025 (specific date TBD)

Deinstallation begins (assistance by Museum staff will be limited and scheduled prior to deinstallation)
Week of June 2, 2025 (likely date Monday, June 2 between 9 am–4 pm)