Cristina DiChiera Leaves RISCA to Join?? Brown University Visual Arts Department
Cristina DiChiera?? and Senate President Teresa Paiva Weed
Cristina DiChiera, RISCA’s Director of Individual Artists Programs, will leave the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts at the end of this month to become the Academic Department Manager for Brown University’s Department of Visual Arts. In her new position, Cristina will oversee department operations and she will work with the staff and Department Chair??to significantly expand the department. Cristina begins her employment at Brown University on July 1, 2016.
Cristina has had a profound impact on Rhode Island’s support for individual artists during her twelve years at RISCA. Under her leadership, Fellowship and Project Grant programs have been updated and expanded significantly. She established and ran RISCA’s Annual Fellowship Exhibition as a way to highlight the work of artists receiving RISCA Fellowship Awards; she created the Design Innovation Grant (DIG) program to help design artists take a concept and move it to the next stage of development; and she established RISCA’s Professional Artists Development Program, now run in partnership with the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art’s (MassMoCA’s)
She leaves having just launched RISCA’s newest grant program in support of Artists Open Studios Tours.
Cristina produces RISCA’s monthly newsletter, manages the RISCA weblog, and works with the State Tourism Division to maintain the Statewide Arts Calendar. She has provided countless consultations, workshops and networking sessions for artists, arts organizations, colleges and universities across the state during her time at the Arts Council.??
Cristina also ran the State’s 1% for Art Program and Atrium Gallery from 2004-2008.?? Cristina conveys her sincerest appreciation and admiration to the artists and arts organizations that she has served and partnered with over the past twelve years.
She says, “It has been a joy and a privilege to work with the dynamic and talented artists who call Rhode Island home. I am grateful for the opportunity to bring the skills and professional relationships I have developed at RISCA to help grow the Visual Arts Department at Brown University. I am also delighted that the next phase of my career will keep me deeply engaged with the arts in Rhode Island!” RISCA will soon announce a search to fill the Director of Individual Artists Programs position. In the mean time, we thank??Cristina for all she has done to support the arts and artists in Rhode Island.??