What Makes Project Open Door Unique?

Project Open Door provides focused and individual assistance that is both challenging and nurturing for teens from low-income backgrounds. The following components form the foundation of our program and are woven into each “doorway” of learning:

Students are introduced to colleges and careers through RISD’s vast resources. Students work in a dedicated community studio on campus and have multiple opportunities to participate in residencies with world-class visiting artists, faculty members and lecturers. Teens visit RISD studios and work alongside college students in the Nature Lab and the Fleet Library at RISD.

Students benefit from individual assistance, mentoring and support. In participating in the program over several years, teens develop close relationships with professional artist mentors, along with RISD undergraduate and graduate students. This experience helps create a bridge to campus life for many first-generation college students.

Project Open Door programs all focus on portfolio development and college/career planning in the fields of art and design. We work with teens at all levels to help them understand that going to college and pursuing an art and/or design career are viable options if they persevere. We expect these high school students to be committed artists and designers in training, and to develop the most creative, diverse and high-quality portfolios possible for their pre-college and college applications.

Students exhibit their work in a college environment. Project Open Door students have multiple opportunities to demonstrate the results of their work at formal exhibitions and through constructive critiques led by professional artists.

“If it weren’t for the after-school program, and especially my mentor, I don’t know where I would be at with college.” —Project Open Door participant