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Community Engaged Coursework

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A students stands next to a wall of designs centered around public health in a classroom.
Farmers Market banner design
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CACP supports MassArt faculty in developing curriculum that engages students by addressing needs identified by community partners.

Through mutually beneficial partnerships that highlight the expertise of community members, students use art and design as vehicles to develop their creative and professional practices.

The Center for Art and Community Partnerships (CACP) fosters connections between MassArt faculty and community partners to co-create real-world projects that address community identified needs. These projects honor the wisdom of local community members as a core component of student learning. By prioritizing intentional collaboration with a focus on equity, CACP enriches the educational experience for all participants, resulting in positive community impacts.

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It was an interesting assignment in that it got me to really think about the community I am a part of and how I can help to improve it. Elizabeth Swanson '16 BFA Graphic Design
People sitting in a circle, connected by string

Portraiture and Representation: Photography + Sociedad Latina

MassArt students co-created portraits with Health Educators and Youth Community Organizers, local teen leaders from Sociedad Latina in Mission Hill. Community building activities; visits to Sociedad and MassArt studios and darkrooms; and portrait sessions resulted in exhibitions of portraits and high school student writing at MassArt, Sociedad Latina, and the Museum of Fine Arts Boston. 
A community gathers in a circle on the wooden floor of a bright room with large windows. Some, engaged in their coursework, wear masks and hold notebooks. Posters and artwork adorn the walls, while two people sit at a table in the background.

Creating Community developing community engaged projects: Art Ed + Studio Foundation

CACP staff co-designed and co-taught this course with Studio Foundation Professor Stephanie Cardon aimed at supporting students in envisioning and planning projects grounded in environmental justice issues.
A of students in a gallery setting looking at a wall of post-it notes

Environmental Forum: Community Building for Healthy Ecosystems with Colleges of the Fenway.

CACP staff co-designed and co-taught this course with Studio Foundation Professor Stephanie Cardon aimed at supporting students in envisioning and planning projects grounded in environmental justice issues.

Farmers Market banner design

Mission Hill Farmers Market Banners: Communications Design, Mission Hill Health Movement, and Mission Hill Main Streets.

MassArt students designed street banners to promote local farmers markets at Brigham Circle and Roxbury Crossing.
A students stands next to a wall of designs centered around public health in a classroom.

Family Van Health Services Vehicle Re-Design: Communication Design + Harvard Medical School

MassArt Communication Design students collaborated with The Family Van, a mobile health initiative from Harvard Medical School that provides free health services and education in Boston. The students redesigned the vehicle’s exterior to better engage the community. Family Van staff provided guidance and feedback, while CACP’s sparc! the ArtMobile team helped gather community input through surveys. The new design led to a 300% increase in public engagement with the Family Van.

Collaborate With Us

Local community artists or organizations interested in collaborating with us – please complete our Partnership Inquiry Form.

A group of thirteen people smiling in front of the colorful ArtMobile van at an outdoor SPARC event.

Center for Art and Community Partnerships

We partner with people and communities within and beyond MassArt to radically expand access to transformative creative experiences.

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621 Huntington Ave,
Boston, MA 02115

(617) 879-7000

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