PROVIDENCE, RI.- The RISD Museum announced the appointment of Sarah Ganz Blythe as Director of Education. Blythe comes to The RISD Museum from the Museum of Modern Art, New York, NY where she has been serving as Director of Interpretation and Research. She received her PhD in art history from the Institute of Fine Arts, New York University and a BA from Wellesley College.

“Sarah’s passion and dedication to museum education, along with her experience in the field, is impressive. I welcome Sarah’s perspective and look forward to expanding our rich educational endeavors at the RISD Museum under her guidance,” says Hope Alswang, Director.

At the Museum of Modern Art , Blythe oversaw interpretation for the museum’s permanent collection and special exhibitions. She collaborated with curators on the installation of exhibitions and the development of digital and analogue interpretive programs. She authored publications on the museum’s collection and special exhibitions. She directed and edited a series of guides for educators on modern and contemporary art. Blythe has experience working within university art museums including Davis Museum and Cultural Center, Wellesley College; and Fogg Art Museum, Harvard University. She writes on and teaches nineteenth and twentieth century art and her current research considers the history of exhibitions and intersections between intention, expectation, and reception with the gallery context.

The Museum’s education department has been lauded for its innovative community programs including artist residencies and collaborations with the Providence Public Library. In addition to the permanent collection of 84,000 objects held in trust for the general public and students of RISD, The RISD Museum initiates a full range of public activities each year, including temporary exhibitions, speakers of national and international import, cultural events and programs for children, families, and adults, and academic classes and seminars for students at RISD and regional colleges and universities.

The RISD Museum also offers innovative educational programs that meet Rhode Island Grade Span Expectations for students in grades 4-12 and teacher professional development programs aimed at integrating the arts into the classroom. These programs serve more than 15,000 Rhode Island schoolchildren and teachers from more than 60 schools, predominantly in Providence , Pawtucket , Central Falls , and other low-income communities.

Last year the Museum launched “Dig the Museum!”. This program, exclusively for Providence public schools, uses innovative lessons to connect classroom curriculum at grade levels 4 through 12 to relevant works of art. Dig the Museum! supports classroom curriculums, reflecting Rhode Island state standards for historical perspectives, social studies, and visual arts. Free bus transportation and museum admission is provided for and arranged by “Dig the Museum!”. Educators visit schools for a preview session to prepare and motivate students. Museum lessons are typically one and a half hours long and reinforce classroom learning and academic standards for each grade level. Afterward, teachers are provided with suggestions for post-visit lessons and activities.

This month, the Museum was awarded a $1 million grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to enhance its academic initiatives with RISD and Brown University .