RISD Museum Appoints Fellowships to 3 Providence Residents

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RISD Museum Appoints Fellowships to 3 Providence Residents

James P. Falzone, Artist Fellow, photograph
RISD Museum has announced the appointments of three new museum fellowships. 

Providence residents and artists James Falzone and Xander Marro will serve as the museum's first Artist Fellows, while Amber Lopez, of Providence joins the Museum as the first Nancy Prophet Fellow. 

"These fellowships meaningfully further how we reflect and contribute to our diverse and creative communities. The Artist Fellowships are one of a number of ways in which we are developing our role as an artist's museum ---- a place for research, discourse, and exchange. The Nancy Prophet Fellowship is part of our sustained commitment to advancing the museum field by diversifying the profession and building an inclusive community where members from all backgrounds can learn and create," said Sarah Ganz Blythe, Deputy Director of Exhibitions, Education, and Programs. 

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All three fellows were picked from large pools of applicants.

Artist Fellowships 

Xander Marro, Artist Fellow, Photograph courtesy of Xander Marro.
The two one-year Artist Fellowships made possible through funding by the National Endowment for the Arts, gives local artists access to the RISD Museum's collection and expert staff as a means of encouraging exploration of new ideas and ways of working. 

"I've been immersed in a world comprised of mostly artist and crafts people as peers and colleagues for so long, the idea of engaging with people equally invested in visual culture and objects, but who are approaching it from a different perspective and with different experiences is really exciting," said artist Xander Marro. 

Composer and musician added,"The prospect of working closely with the Museum and intimately familiarizing myself with the full breadth of its collection is surely one that will foster my own creative spirit. Seeking connections between the visual and the sonic arts with their shared underpinnings in design is a fundamental drive of my creative work."

Falzone and Marro each receive a $10,000 stipend and can access a range of resources at RISD to expand their knowledge and art making skills. 

Nancy Prophet Fellowship 

Amber Lopez, Nancy Prophet Fellow, Photograph courtesy of the RISD Museum.
The Nancy Prophet Fellowship is a two-year, full time position for artists and scholars embarking on careers in the arts and considering the museum profession and the roles museums play in an increasingly diverse society. 

"What is most exciting about my position as a Nancy Prophet Fellow is that I will be working with a community that recognizes the importance of access to opportunity for artists, scholars, and students of color," said Amber Lopez. 

The fellowship is named in honor of Nancy Elizabeth Prophet, a Rhode Island artist of Narragansett and African heritage. 

RISD Museum 

The RISD Museum was established in Providence in 1877 alongside the Rhode Island School of Design. 


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