RISD Museum Launches 'Ways of Looking' Entry Galleries to Foster Active Visitor Participation

In March, the RISD Museum launched Ways of Looking, a duo of introductory galleries designed to transform the visitor experience. Rather than a traditional orientation space, these galleries showcase the RISD Museum Way, a distinctive approach to art engagement through four perspectives: process, meanings, origins, and connections. Museum Director Tsugumi Maki highlighted the importance of making museum thought processes transparent, noting that Ways of Looking communicates the institution's framework and invites guests to engage actively in meaning-making. The galleries serve as both an invitation and a challenge, offering practical tools while promoting inquiry, interpretation, and participation. This initiative redefines how visitors approach and interact with the museum, emphasizing engagement through targeted analytical lenses.