Location & Getting here

The fair is located on the first floor of Fleet Library at RISD in downtown Providence, Rhode Island. The building entrance is at 15 Westminster Street. Exhibitor tables are located in four places on the ground floor: the Main Hallway, the RISD Library Living Room, the RISD Library Study Terrace, and the RISD Library Study Area behind the circulation desk. We’ll have a registration and information desk just inside the main entrance.

Fleet Library is a very short walk from Kennedy Plaza, Providence’s central bus hub, so it’s easy to get here via public transportation. The local bus system is RIPTA. We’re a 10-minute walk from the Providence train station on Gaspee Street, with inter-city trains via Amtrak and Boston/ regional trains via MBTA commuter rail. We also have bike racks outside our building. If you plan to arrive by car, read on for parking information.  

Parking

RISD parking lots will be available to exhibitors on a first-come, first-served basis. Note that these parking lots do fill up, even on weekends. Please pick up a parking pass and parking map at the check-in table. Visit this link for more information about parking at RISD.

Paid public parking lots and garages are located throughout downtown Providence. Metered street parking is also available throughout Providence. Rules and restrictions are posted on signs along the streets.  

The parking spaces in front of the Library on 15 Westminster Street will be reserved for exhibitors’ loading on Sat, April 11, from 9:30-11am and 5-6pm. We will have volunteers available to watch your materials after unloading while you park your vehicle.

Check-in

Please arrive between 9:30 and 10:30am for check-in. Visit the UNBOUND check-in table in the main hallway of Fleet Library to receive your table location and welcome packet. If you are running late, please contact us at risdunbound@risd.edu so that we know you are on your way. You must check in by 10:50am. We will release your table at 10:50am if you have not checked in nor contacted us.

Setup

You have been assigned either a half table or a full table. Full tables are approximately 6 feet long and 3 feet wide, and half tables are approximately 3 feet long by 3 feet wide. Each table will be labeled with the exhibitor’s name (from the application and confirmed via email). Each half table will have one chair and each full table will have two chairs (unless you have requested additional chairs). Some of the tables can be ugly or worn, so we recommend bringing a tablecloth or other table covering.

Power outlets are not accessible from every table, so please charge your devices! You may also want to bring: portable power banks, tools, adhesives, pens, markers, power strips, tabletop display racks, decorations, etc. Exhibitors will not be able to mount works on walls. Please plan to fit your work and displays within the constraints of the table top. Due to fire codes, racks and items that do not fit on your tabletop are not allowed. Space under and behind the table can be used for your storage and supplies. 

Taxes

All Unbound exhibitors are legally required to have a Rhode Island sales permit on display during the event. 

If you have a permanent Rhode Island sales permit, you MUST provide a copy of your permit to us ahead of time; we are required to maintain a copy of this permit. You also must display your permanent sales permit on your table during Unbound. Exhibitors with permanent Rhode Island sales permits are responsible for collecting taxes as applicable and paying taxes directly to the state.  

If you do not have a permanent sales permit, you can apply for a Rhode Island temporary sales permit by filling out a form that we will provide at the registration table. 

All exhibitors who will be applying for a Rhode Island temporary sales permit are required to attend one of the following informational sales and tax meetings via Zoom:

• Monday, March 16 from 7:00pm-8:00pm, OR
• Wednesday, March 18 from 12:00pm-1:00pm  

If you do not have a permanent Rhode Island sales permit and you do not attend a sales and tax meeting, you cannot exhibit at Unbound. 

Exhibitors are responsible for collecting the applicable 7% sales tax on taxable items sold at Unbound. We will provide more detailed information about this at the pre-event sales and tax meeting. At the end of Unbound, every vendor with a temporary sales permit must fill out a Sales Data Return reporting your sales for the day (pink and white sheets from your sales packet) and pay your tax amount to the State of Rhode Island via check or money order; you must hand the Sales Data Return and the payment to the organizers of Unbound before you leave. We will deliver the Sales Data Returns and tax payments to the Rhode Island Division of Taxation.  

Accessibility

The Study Terrace is up a flight of stairs. The building is wheelchair accessible, and there is a staff-operated, accessible lift in the Library that reaches the Study Terrace and Library Mezzanine. There are gender-neutral, single-stall restrooms on the 1st floor, and men’s and women’s, stalled restrooms on the 2nd floor; the 2nd floor restrooms each have one accessible stall. On the first floor, restrooms are located inside Portfolio Café. On the second floor, they are located in the hallway to your left when you exit the elevators. To reach the second-floor bathrooms, take the second set of elevators. Please note that wheelchair-accessible bathrooms are only available on the second floor.

Please consider wearing a mask to increase the accessibility of this event for all attendees. We will have masks available at the registration desk. 

Wifi & Money Related Things

Wifi will be available on-site. To make customer purchases easy, please come prepared for a range of purchasing methods — cash, credit cards, Venmo, Zelle, PayPal. Bring your own cash to make change, bring a credit card purchasing system for your sales if you have one, and set up a Venmo or PayPal account prior to the fair. Be sure to pack multiples of your work in case you sell more than anticipated! We discourage any exhibitors from closing early.

Wifi network: RISD-Unbound 
Password: R1SDis#1

Clean-Up

Exhibitors are responsible for cleaning up their own tables. Clean-up will begin promptly at 5:00 p.m. At this time, you should clear your space and pack up your boxes and supplies. Trash receptacles will be available on-site. Vendors with temporary sales permits will need to hand in their Sales Data Return forms with attached tax payment (check) before leaving. 

Food & Water

The fair is conveniently located in the same building as RISD’s Portfolio Café where meals, snacks, and beverages are available for purchase. Portfolio Café will offer a special meal deal (food, side, and beverage) for Unbound exhibitors and attendees. Top allergens for menu items are identified per item on the online menus. Signs also note if an item is vegetarian, vegan and/or gluten-free. Portfolio Café is peanut- and tree nut-free. 

Water fountains and a water station are available in the building – bring your reusable water bottle! Other dining options are located throughout downtown Providence. 

Social Media

Help us spread the word about UNBOUND by sharing the event on your social media or other platforms. Follow us on Instagram at @risdunbound and make sure to tag all your posts with #RisdUnbound2026

The RISD UNBOUND 2026 Social Media Packet can be found here.

Policies & Disclaimers

Per RISD policy, only service animals are allowed in the library. Emotional support animals are not permitted. 

RISD UNBOUND reserves the right to refuse the application and/or participation of any person or company for any reason. 

RISD UNBOUND does not assume any responsibility or obligation to provide financial or other assistance, including, but not limited to medical, health, or disability insurance in the event of injury, illness, death, or property damage, resulting from participation in the event.