RISD Museum director resigns

RISD Museum Director Hope Alswang (pictured above, right) has resigned effective today, according to the Providence art school. “Alswang will leave to pursue other opportunities,” the school said in a press release. An attempt to reach Alswang at her home tonight was unsuccessful.

Alswang has lead the museum, which is closed this month as RISD tightens its belt during this time of economic crisis, since Sept. 12, 2005. “We at RISD are grateful for all that Hope accomplished during her tenure here – from increased museum visitation to the restoration of museum buildings and her leadership in the community,” RISD President John Maeda (pictured above, left) said in the release. “We wish her all of the best as she continues her distinguished career.”

Ann Woolsey immediately took over as interim director, the school reported. She worked as a curator in the museum’s painting and sculpture department from 1988 to 1997, returned to the museum in 2004 to help in the planning and construction of the Chace Center, and has been serving as assistant director of planning.

“While the Providence community, museum staff, board of governors and I are very sad to see Hope Alswang leave the RISD Museum, we are thankful that Ann Woolsey has agreed to serve as the museum’s interim director,” Arnold-Peter Weiss, a RISD trustee and chair of the museum’s board of governors, said in the release. “Woolsey has more than a decade of experience at the RISD Museum and will be able to provide continuity to the museum’s mission and focus. We hope to build on the great advances that the museum has enjoyed over the last few years.”

Photo from an Nov. 8, 2008, post at the "Our RISD" blog in which Maeda reported "I had a nice chat yesterday with RISD Museum Director Hope Alswang about the nature of museums."