RISD Museum Appoints New Deputy Director for Audience Experience

News Summary

The RISD Museum has appointed Kris Wilton as the new Deputy Director of Audience Experience and Learning, beginning April 2025. With a background in journalism and experience at the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston, Wilton will oversee interpretation, education, and visitor services. Her focus on storytelling aims to deepen connections between audiences and the museum’s extensive art collection. As part of a five-year strategic plan, the museum plans to enhance community engagement and accessibility while addressing space management challenges for its over-capacity collections.

Providence, Rhode Island – The RISD Museum has appointed Kris Wilton as the new Deputy Director of Audience Experience and Learning, with her role set to begin in April 2025. Wilton, who has a background in journalism and previously worked at the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston, will be responsible for overseeing the museum’s interpretation, education, creative production, membership programs, and visitor services.

The appointment comes as the RISD Museum strives to adopt a cohesive, audience-first approach to better connect audiences with the valuable art and design collections it houses. The museum attracts over 130,000 visitors annually and boasts a collection of more than 100,000 works of art and design.

Wilton emphasizes the importance of storytelling in enhancing the museum’s initiatives and fostering connections between visitors and the art in an era of pervasive digital media. She recognizes that the museum’s curators play a vital role by researching and creating narratives for exhibitions, while a dedicated team works on engaging diverse audiences through various pathways.

Under Wilton’s leadership, the museum’s strategic plan will focus on four key lenses: process, meaning, origins, and connection in relation to its art objects. These focus areas aim to create more immersive experiences that cater to different visitor engagement preferences, amidst the challenges posed by a tech-savvy audience accustomed to quick digital consumption.

As part of the new initiatives, the RISD Museum is currently developing a digital guide and educational programs, including “Ways of Looking,” which encourages deeper engagement with specific artworks. Another initiative, “Ways to Museum,” seeks to demystify the operations of museums and reach a broader audience through various content formats.

The alignment of Wilton’s objectives with the museum’s new five-year strategic plan highlights a commitment to increasing community engagement and improving visitors’ experiences. This input comes from feedback gathered from 900 individuals who shared their thoughts on the museum’s direction, indicating a strong public interest in its future.

To further expand its audience and enhance accessibility, the museum also plans to improve communication about its unique connection to the Rhode Island School of Design. This is part of a broader effort to expand the museum’s reputation beyond Southeast New England.

In the near future, the RISD Museum will host an upcoming exhibit by multimedia artist Liz Collins starting July 17, focusing on contemporary fashion and textiles. Admission to the museum is $22 for adults, while visitors aged 18 and under enter for free. Discounts are available for seniors and college students, and free admission is offered on Thursday evenings and all day on Sundays.

The RISD Museum is currently facing challenges regarding space management, as its collections are over capacity. Plans are in motion to better manage these collections while ensuring that the space is more accessible to the public. The appointment of Kris Wilton signifies a strong step towards enhancing audience experience and learning at the museum, aligning with its mission to connect more effectively with its community and visitors.

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• Boston Globe: RISD Museum Appoints Kris Wilton
• Brown Daily Herald: RISD Museum Strategic Plan
• Turn to 10: RISD Museum Summer Exhibit
• National Review: French Wallpaper Design
• Antiques and the Arts: RISD Museum French Wallpaper
• Wikipedia: Rhode Island School of Design
• Google Search: RISD Museum
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Rhode Island School of Design
• Google News: RISD Museum