RISD is affiliated with a number of local, regional and national organizations that focus on shared goals and support RISD’s mission.

RISD Accreditors (click here for complete information)
American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA)
National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB)
National Association of Schools of Art & Design (NASAD)
National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification (NASDTEC)
New England Association of Schools & Colleges (NEASC)

The Center for Design & Business (www.centerdesignbusiness.org)
The Center for Design & Business (CDB) was established in 1997 by RISD and Bryant University to unite the core capabilities of design and business in the regional economy. Now under the direction of William Foulkes, who was appointed executive director in early 2007, the CDB is poised to embrace and reflect the changing role of design and creative thinking in all aspects of American life. As an educational resource, it works with institutions and corporations on strategic initiatives that make use of design methodologies to address the complex challenges of the day. The CDB facilitates workshops, design audits, custom projects and sponsored studios in collaboration with multidisciplinary teams and a variety of educational partnerships.

RI Citizens for the Arts (www.ri4arts.org)
The mission of Rhode Island Citizens for the Arts is to secure a stable and growing base of public and private financial support for the arts to insure access to and participation in the arts for all Rhode Islanders. It organizes and educates the Rhode Island arts community to promote legislation and raise funds for arts that benefit all Rhode Islanders. The goals of Rhode Island Citizens for the Arts are achieved through the financial support of arts organizations and individual memberships. The RISD Museum is a member institution and Lora Urbanelli, the Museum’s Interim Director, is a member of the volunteer board of directors.

The Silk Road Ensemble (www.silkroadproject.org)
In April 2005 RISD and Harvard University’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences began a multi-year affiliation with renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble. The ensemble is part of the Silk Road Project, which was founded by Ma in 1998 to study the ebb and flow of ideas among different cultures along the Silk Road. The Project acts as an umbrella organization and common resource for a number of artistic, cultural and educational programs.