Families Weekend
Held in October, our annual families event offers visitors abundant chances to connect with students, faculty and staff, and to explore studios and galleries. Throughout Families Weekend you’ll experience what makes RISD so special.
A lively fall tradition
Families Weekend events invite parents to see studios up close, speak with faculty, attend demos and exhibitions, and visit with their students. RISD Craft, a juried sale that takes place on Saturday, brings people together to showcase what’s happening at RISD.
We reserve a limited number of rooms at nearby hotels, motels and B&Bs for guests attending Families Weekend. Accommodations in the area fill up fast, so be sure to book in advance via our campus travel portal.
Families Weekend 2026: October 9–11
From the top of College Hill to our Downtown studios, our campus was buzzing with excitement and curiosity as students, faculty, staff, and alumni shared their RISD experiences through open studios, hands-on maker sessions, RISD Craft, and more.
2026 Weekend Event Schedule
October 9
Friday Events
9 am–4 pm
Check-in & On-site Registration
20 Washington Place Lobby
10 am–4 pm
Family Photobooth
20 Washington Place Lobby
10 am–5 pm
RISD Museum Open Hours
RISD Museum, 20 North Main Street
10 am-5 pm
STUDENT EXHIBITION: New Contemporaries
Gelman Gallery (RISD Museum), 20 North Main Street
10 am–5 pm
STUDENT EXHIBITION: Printmaking Department Triennial
Woods-Gerry Gallery, 62 Prospect Street
10–11:30 am
HANDS-ON SESSION: Papermaking Workshop with Haley MacKeil MFA 21 PR
*First-come, first-served.
Biodesign Makerspace Nature Lab 13 Waterman St
11 am–12:30 pm
Families Association Leadership Council Annual Meeting
Room 366, 20 Washington Place
12–5 pm
STUDENT EXHIBITION: Graphic Design Graduate Biennial
Sol Koffler Gallery ,169 Weybosett Street, First Floor
12–5 pm
EXHIBITION: Off the Clock
ISB Gallery, Illustration Studies Building, 55 Canal Walk, 1st Floor.
12:30–1:30 pm
Downtown Providence Public Art Tour
Activity level: low to moderate, urban pavements (concrete, brick, and cobblestones), some slight hills over roughly 1.7 miles.
*First-come, first served.
Starting from ProvWash Lobby, 20 Washington Place
12:30–4:30 pm
OFFICE HOURS: Student Financial Services
20 Washington Place
12:30–4:30 pm
OFFICE HOURS: Registrar
20 Washington Place
12:30–4:30 pm
OFFICE HOURS: Career Services
20 Washington Place
1–4 pm
Sketching at the RISD Museum
Museum Galleries (Chace Center and Granoff Galleries, 3rd floor). 20 North Main Street
1–3 pm
Work in Process: Student Experiences at the RISD Museum
RISD Museum, 20 North Main Street (enter through either the N. Main or Benefit Street entrances and the information desk staff can direct you to the students.
2:30–3:30 pm
PRESENTATION: RISD Ready!: Imagining Life Beyond RISD
Metcalf Auditorium, 20 North Main Street
4–5 pm
PRESENTATION: Inside the Studio
Metcalf Auditorium, 20 North Main Street
6:30–8 pm
ARTIST TALK: Scientific Illustration—Artists in Conversation
Fleet Library Living Room, 15 Westminster Street, Providence
Please visit our registration page for additional information and any late changes to the schedule.
October 10
Saturday Events
9 am–4 pm
Check-in & On-site Registration
20 Washington Place Lobby
9 am–12 pm
Continental Breakfast
Included with your General Admission ticket(s).
ProvWash Lobby, 20 Washington Place, Providence, RI 02903
10 am–2 pm
Fleet Library Annual Book Sale
Fleet Library, 15 Westminster Street
10 am–4 pm
Family Photobooth
20 Washington Place Lobby
10 am–4 pm
RISD Craft
Benefit Street (Between Waterman & College Streets)
10 am–5 pm
RISD Museum Open Hours
RISD Museum, 20 North Main Street
10 am–5 pm
STUDENT EXHIBITION: New Contemporaries
Gelman Gallery (RISD Museum), 20 North Main Street
10 am–5 pm
STUDENT EXHIBITION: Printmaking Department Triennial
Woods-Gerry Gallery, 62 Prospect Street
10 am–3 pm
OPEN HOUSE: Painting
Memorial Hall, 226 Benefit Street, Painting Gallery, 3rd floor
10:30 am–12 pm
Campus Tour
Activity level: low to moderate, urban environment (concrete, brick, and cobblestones), some hills.
*First come, first-served.
Meet in the 20 Washington Place Lobby
10:30 am–12:30 pm
HANDS-ON SESSION: Letterpress Demo with Lois Harada 10 PR
*First come, first-served.
Graphic Design Typeshop, Design Center, 30 N Main St
11 am–2 pm
STUDENT EXHIBITION: Graphic Design Graduate Biennial
Sol Koffler Gallery, 169 Weybosett Street, First Floor
11 am–2 pm
OPEN HOUSE: Glass
Metcalf Building, 14 N. Main Street, 4th Floor (Hot Shop)
11 am–2 pm
OPEN HOUSE: Graphic Design
Design Center, 30 N. Main Street, Graphic Design Commons, First floor
11 am–2 pm
OPEN HOUSE: Industrial Design
Industrial Design Building, 161 South Main Street
11 am–2 pm
OPEN HOUSE: Jewelry + Metalsmithing
Metcalf Building, 14 N. Main Street, 2nd Floor
11 am–2 pm
OPEN HOUSE: Sculpture
Metcalf Building, 14 N. Main Street, Alley, 2nd & 3rd Floors
11 am–2 pm
OPEN HOUSE: Textiles
Metcalf Building, 14 N. Main Street, 1st Floor; College Building, 236 Benefit Street, Rm 328 and 312
11 am–4 pm
Caricatures on RISD Beach
RISD Beach, corner of Waterman & Benefit Streets
11 am–4 pm
OPEN HOUSE: Nature Lab
Edna W. Lawrence Nature Lab, 13 Waterman Street
11 am–2 pm
OPEN HOUSE: Film, Animation & Video
Metcalf Auditorium, 20 North Main Street
11 am–2 pm
OPEN HOUSE: Printmaking
Frazier Terrace (across from the museum) 223-227 Benefit Street
11 am–2 pm
OPEN HOUSE: Ceramics
Metcalf Building, 14 N. Main Street, 3rd Floor
11 am–2 pm
OPEN HOUSE: Photography
Canal Walk, outside the Design Center
11 am–1 pm
OPEN HOUSE: Illustration
Illustration Studies Building, 55 Canal Walk, ISB 205
11 am–12:30 pm
HANDS-ON SESSION: Tile Making with David Allyn MFA 03 CR
*First come, first-served.
NEW LOCATION: Metcalf Building, 14 N. Main Street, Basement Room 007
11 am–4 pm
EXHIBITION: Off the Clock
ISB Gallery, Illustration Studies Building, 55 Canal Walk, 1st Floor.
12–2 pm
Continental Lunch
Included with your General Admission ticket(s).
ProvWash Lobby, 20 Washington Place, Providence, RI
12–2 pm
OPEN HOUSE: Furniture Design
Metcalf Building, 14 N. Main Street, Room 117 & Alley
12:30–1:30 pm
HANDS-ON SESSION: Postcards from RISD: A Letterpress Workshop with Dominique Greene MFA 27 Printmaking
Memorial Hall, 226 Benefit Street, Rm 111
1–4 pm
Sketching at the RISD Museum
Museum Galleries (Chace Center and Granoff Galleries, 3rd floor). 20 North Main Street
1–2 pm
PRESENTATION: Life After RISD: How RISD Shaped Your Career and Career Path
ProvWash Auditorium, 20 Washington Place
2–3:30 pm
Campus Tour
*First come, first-served.
Departing from 20 Washington Place Lobby
3–4 pm
PRESENTATION: Life After the Studio
ProvWash Auditorium, 20 Washington Place
3:30–4:30 pm
Artist Talk with RISD Professor Masha Ryskin
Brown RISD Hillel, 80 Brown St
4:30–6 pm
Opening Reception for Yesod
For more information and other opportunities at Brown | RISD Hillel please visit their website: www.brownrisdhillel.org Brown RISD Hillel, 80 Brown St
5:45–7 pm
President's Reception
*Registration required
Grand Gallery, RISD Museum, 224 Benefit Street
Please visit our registration page for additional information and any late changes to the schedule.
October 11
Sunday Events
10 am–5 pm
STUDENT EXHIBITION: New Contemporaries
Gelman Gallery (RISD Museum), 20 North Main Street
12–5 pm
STUDENT EXHIBITION: Graphic Design Graduate Biennial
Sol Koffler Gallery, 169 Weybosett Street, First Floor
2–5 pm
STUDENT EXHIBITION: Printmaking Department Triennial
Woods-Gerry Gallery, 62 Prospect Street
Please visit our registration page for additional information and any late changes to the schedule.
Contact us
Alumni and Family Relations is here to help you navigate your student's RISD experience. Email us at families@risd.edu or give us a call at 401 454-6656.