Step behind the scenes with RISD Museum curators for an intimate evening of close looking, featuring artworks newly approved for the permanent collection—just one day after their review by the Museum’s Fine Arts Committee. Limited to 15 participants, this small-group experience offers rare access to works at the very beginning of their public life and an insider’s view of the curatorial thinking that shapes the collection.

Kate Irvin, Department Head and Curator of Costume and Textiles, and Gabrielle Walker, Nancy Elizabeth Prophet Curatorial Assistant, will lead a focused presentation on a select group of recent acquisitions, inviting sustained looking and conversation. Together, they will open a broader dialogue about collecting, long-term relationships with donors, and the thoughtful, often unseen processes through which objects move from private ownership into public stewardship.

Wine, non-alcoholic beverages, and light snacks will be served.