RISD Will Host Movement Lab Symposium in October

The three-day event will highlight interdisciplinary research through performances and new gallery works.

Updated on Oct. 7, 2026 in Fine Art

RISD Will Host Movement Lab Symposium in October

Live Poll

Do you believe local arts symposiums and exhibitions provide significant value to your community?

Beginning October 14, 2026, the Rhode Island School of Design will host the Movement Lab Symposium, a multidisciplinary gathering in Providence. The event will showcase the research of seven fellows selected between 2023 and 2026.

Why it matters

The symposium aims to spotlight the interdisciplinary research produced by Movement Lab fellows through a mix of performances, screenings, and speaker presentations. It also serves as a dedication to the late professor Sheri Wills.

The Movement Lab is supported by the Maxwell/Hanrahan Foundation. The host institution currently serves 2,577 enrolled students from 60 countries.

The players

Rhode Island School of Design

This private art and design college is located in Providence and is the primary host for the upcoming symposium.

Jamestown Arts Center

This community-based arts organization will host the Imprint and Playback exhibition as part of the symposium programming.

Maxwell/Hanrahan Foundation

This organization provides the funding support necessary to sustain the Movement Lab fellowship program.

Sheri Wills

The late professor is being honored through this dedicated symposium event.

The details

The symposium schedule includes movement between various RISD campus spaces and the Jamestown Arts Center, where the exhibition Imprint and Playback will debut. Featured artists include Melisa Achoko Allela, Azadeh Ahmadi, Patrick Buhr, Maxime Cavajani, Kameron Neal, L.A. Samuelson, and Hunter Whitaker-Morrow.

The fellowship selection process took place from 2023 to 2026.
The Movement Lab Symposium will occur from October 14, 2026, to October 16, 2026.
The Imprint and Playback exhibition opens on October 16, 2026.
The exhibition will close on November 7, 2026.

Industry Dynamics

The Movement Lab fellowship continues to foster interdisciplinary artistic research within the institution. This event marks the latest public presentation of work developed through this specific academic-funded creative pipeline.

The public can engage with the featured fellows through scheduled live performances, screenings, and panel discussions occurring throughout the symposium. Visitors may also view the Imprint and Playback exhibition at the Jamestown Arts Center until its conclusion in November.

The takeaway

This symposium offers a rare opportunity to view the cumulative output of four years of interdisciplinary fellowship research. Attendees should plan for travel between the university campus and the Jamestown Arts Center to access the full scope of the event programming.