The Area of Greatest Need is our top priority as it supports student scholarships and other urgent needs for our students, many of whom are first generation and low income, and therefore disproportionately in need of financial assistance.

Your gift to the area of greatest need allows us to move swiftly in response to our community’s necessities. It is a vehicle for individuals to make donations that can be used in whichever way is most appropriate and effective. Most of this funding goes toward student scholarships. MassArt has created a dedicated committee to make timely decisions regarding the needs of students as they unfold and change.

Student Scholarship Aid is participating in MassArt #GivingTuesday! Make a gift through this page to support Student Scholarship Aid directly.

Did you know that more than 90% of MassArt students rely on scholarship and financial aid to cover the cost of tuition, housing, food and art supplies? The more we can offer them in scholarships, the more they can focus on deepening their practice, engaging with their education, and transforming our world with art and design!

The BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) Fund is participating in MassArt Giving Tuesday! Make a gift through this page to support The BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) Fund directly.

The BIPOC Fund administered by the Justice, Equity and Transformation (JET) Office, is a student-led initiative to provide financial support to MassArt students of color in their studio art practice, senior degree, and thesis projects.

Since its inception in 2021, the BIPOC Fund has awarded $35,700 to 86 students! Let’s increase our impact this year!

The Animation department, with a curriculum as diverse as its students, seeks to challenge emerging artists to be adaptive and flexible, with many paths leading to futures as animators, designers and artists. The program encourages a visionary and pragmatic approach that supports students towards work within the animation industry and into other fields.

In the Architectural Design department, the architecture faculty foster a welcoming, friendly, and highly participatory culture in their classes. Coursework is enriched by field trips to building and construction sites, seminars on leading design issues, precedent study, and research on the nature of materials and technologies. Upon completion of the program, students will be qualified to apply for and obtain positions in a range of architecture firms or to continue study in graduate-level architecture schools across the country.

The Art Education department embodies a critical, studio-centric approach to visual arts education. Our programs prioritize justice and equity while emphasizing engaged studio practice, social activism, and expansive scholarship. We celebrate our urban context, and particularly the Boston Public Schools, with whom we share a historical partnership. Our students catalyze inclusive, active, and activist learning for all, across educational contexts and environments.

Since its start in 2011, Artward Bound‘s mission has been to provide 9-12th grade Greater Boston-area students interested in art and design with the artistic, academic, and life skills needed to thrive in college and beyond. We offer a free, four-year, year-round program that helps our students build the skills to be successful, resilient adults that use their creative talents to better support themselves and their communities.

Center for Art and Community Partnerships helps fund our community-focused programs, which provide greater access to transformative and creative experiences. Our programs and partnerships reflect the vibrancy of our communities, the joy of creativity, and the generous relationships we grow and nurture with our collaborators.

We use art and design as catalysts to bring people of all ages and stages together, through:

PartnershipWORKS ~ Artful employment with purpose

MassArt students work in various community-engaged jobs throughout Boston where they contribute their art and design skills, learn from and with community members, and widen their lenses of Boston and beyond.

sparc! the ArtMobile ~ Igniting art and design in the neighborhood

sparc! the ArtMobile is both a retrofitted van fully equipped with art supplies, and a dynamic team of MassArt staff and students that travel Boston’s neighborhoods. Our intergenerational art and design programs, free of charge, stimulate cross-cultural conversations and build community.

Fern Cunningham-Terry Memorial Fund – If you are passionate about supporting Boston youth in the arts, please consider supporting this fund, the first in MassArt’s history named in honor of a Black woman. sparc! the ArtMobile co-administers this fund that supports local youth through artistic opportunities.

Community Engaged Coursework~ Supporting curriculum rooted in community expertise

CACP collaborates with MassArt faculty in developing curriculum that engages students by addressing needs and dreams 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.

Connect with CACP!

Sign up for our Monthly E-Newsletter

Check out our sparc! the ArtMobile Blog

Through these programs and much more, CACP brings our mission to life in part through your generous support.

Ceramics students explore personal ideas through the lenses of history, aesthetics, world culture, social/environmental issues, design, craftsmanship, science, and innovation. The undergraduate curriculum provides a strong foundation in technical skills and ideas important for today’s artists/designers and educators working in ceramic materials.

Communication Design students gain a robust working knowledge of print design, information design, branding, and dynamic media (user experience design). Throughout the program, students are challenged to develop design solutions in the areas of package design, publication design, web and app design, interactive communication, and advertising, as well as the creation of graphic identities and brand systems.

The Academic Compass Program is a mentoring program that supports undergraduate students with advising, tutoring, and navigating issues of transition in academic, creative, social, cultural and personal areas.

The goal of Compass is to provide resources, opportunities, and support to first-generation college students, students from alternative, non-traditional, or under-resourced high schools.

MassArt’s Creative Economy Business Incubator Program is designed to support the development of student-owned businesses. Working individually or in teams, students spend two semesters developing, market testing, and refining a business idea. Participants learn foundational principles of entrepreneurship, strategy, marketing, and finance through practice and hands-on experience. Professional network building is emphasized and each team will work with mentors and experts with experience in creative industries, entrepreneurship, or business management.

The FABLABS are communal spaces dedicated to supporting the creative process, developing problem-solving skills, and empowering the community through emerging technologies through the process of digital fabrication. The FABLABS consist of the UPLAB, BASELAB, and PCLAB.

MassArt’s Dynamic Media Institute (DMI) offers two graduate programs in design: a Master of Fine Arts and a Post-Baccalaureate certificate. Our DMI programs focus on the future uses of dynamic media for communication design, including data visualization, user-centered experiences, mobile applications, smart environments, interactive systems, and mixed reality.

The Fashion Design department goals are to support personal development in design by emphasizing concept-driven fashion, innovation and presentation. Through creative process, industry practice, technical competency and craft, students build the knowledge and critical thinking needed to become a versatile fashion designer. MassArt Fashion Design was established in 1907, and is one of the oldest fashion programs in the United States.

The Fibers program offers courses in weaving, surface design, knitting, felt-making, basketry, hand papermaking, interlacing, dyeing, and fabric construction. Emphasis is placed on making personally meaningful connections between traditional approaches to fiber and contemporary developments in art, artisanry, and design.

Students majoring in Film/Video are encouraged to experiment widely in order to realize their personal aesthetic goals and vision. Students focus on producing their own work in all three years of the major, working both individually and in collaboration with their peers. They are introduced to all facets of digital and analogue production, and work in experimental, narrative, and nonfiction forms.

The Glass program encourages students to experiment with glass as a medium for individual expression, through the creation of vessels and sculptural forms. In recognition of the centuries-old glassmaking tradition, students gain a deeper understanding of historical glass techniques and how they inform current practices. Faculty and visiting artists offer their skills and knowledge to support students’ growth, in addition to seminars, slide lectures, studio visits, and exhibitions.

Students in the MassArt Graduate Programs make up a diverse community of artists, designers, and educators, working together in state-of-the-art facilities in the heart of Boston. Intimate class sizes allow for mentorship with world-class faculty, and collaboration across disciplines is encouraged. MassArt graduate students have opportunities to exhibit work both on and off campus, and to connect with internationally renowned visiting artists, designers, entrepreneurs, and scholars.

History of Art students are both scholars and artists, participating in both thesis research and a rigorous studio component.

The Humanities department advances the interdisciplinary teaching and learning necessary for equipping MassArt students with the knowledge, tools, skills, and habits to participate in and shape culture through their creative practice.  The Humanities faculty teach the foundational skills of reading, writing, critical thinking, and research, as well as historical methods that emphasize transcultural and global perspectives.

Every illustrator is a storyteller at heart. MassArt’s Illustration program emphasizes the understanding of character development and narrative techniques. As students grow in their capacity to draw from observation—a key tenet of the program—they learn to render images in a range of media and to develop a variety of visual concepts. Students also use electronic media to explore compositional elements of time and movement and learn how to integrate them into visual storytelling.

The Industrial Design program empowers students to become creative, holistic problem solvers who impact our society through the development of meaningful and relevant designed products and experiences. Visual and verbal communication skills are a hallmark of the program, allowing our students to understand and pragmatically convey the value of design to business, communities and people.

The new department of Integrative Sciences and Biological Arts at MassArt is an innovative hub for Art+Science integration, collaboration, and public engagement at the college and beyond. The department provides the Science/Math and Social Sciences education components of the MassArt BFA degree program.

Due to their immigration status, international students have very limited off-campus work options and are ineligible for Federal financial aid or U.S. loans. During the pandemic, the International Education Center was able to secure external emergency grant funding for 5 international students with need, a small percentage of our nearly 100 international students. Your gift can directly offset either the hefty visa and immigration fees they face to gain student status in the United States and/or assist international students struggling to meet daily living expenses such as food, school supplies, transportation, and more.

Through the creation of jewelry, functional objects, and sculpture, students in the Jewelry & Metalsmithing program give form to their artistic vision. Along with essential techniques like construction, casting, forming, stone setting, and computer aided design (CAD), coursework is offered in all major metalworking techniques. Students also learn to construct jewelry from both base and precious materials while learning how objects are informed by their social, cultural, and historical contexts.

The Morton R. Godine Library is committed to upholding the mission of the College through equitable provision of library services and development of collections supporting the curriculum. In this spirit, free and open access to resources is afforded to the College community and the general public.

Every gift to MAAM – no matter how large or small – supports our mission of opening eyes and expanding minds through the lens of contemporary art. MAAM is free and open to everyone. Always.

The MassArt x SoWa graduate gallery’s mission is to exhibit high quality work in a broad range of media from emerging and established artists in the MassArt community. The gallery features the thesis work of our Master of Fine Arts students and premier work from our graduate design programs, as well as curatorial projects, alumni exhibitions, student and faculty curated shows, and collaborative exhibitions with our community partners.

Generous gifts from you have allowed us to host over 30 exciting exhibitions with innovative programming and events! Make a gift today – every small act of generosity adds up, and makes another dream possible at MassArt!

Minor financial issues may affect a student’s ability to continue their education. To support students, the college has established the Mastodon Emergency Fund to cover emergencies and other unexpected issues.

These funds are intended to be used for unexpected financial hardships such as medical bills, food, one-time rental assistance or car repair. In addition, these funds may be used to purchase supplies needed for projects.

The mission of the Painting program is to provide a solid foundation within traditional and contemporary painting discourse in a learning environment that emphasizes experimentation and critical thinking. We educate students to become independent practicing artists for today’s world.

Photography students study photography as fine art with an emphasis on the history of photography and the body of criticism surrounding the medium, as well as the development of their own personal vision and experimentation in the studio. The curriculum introduces students to both analog and digital production, and offers a wide variety of elective courses providing a strong foundation for critical thinking, collaboration, and a career in photographic arts.

The Printmaking program fosters a deep understanding and mastery of printmaking techniques, materials and methods. We value a wide range of historical traditions and contemporary innovation to encourage critical thinking in the service of artistic excellence.

MassArt’s Professional and Continuing Education (PCE) offers a wide variety of on-campus, online, and hybrid courses, workshops, and certificate programs across nearly 20 disciplines, ranging from half-day workshops to multi-semester programs. Faculty bring their expertise and real-world experience to the classroom to create challenging and relevant curricula for creative professionals looking to advance their careers, as well as lifelong learners wanting to explore new interests.

Thank you for your donation to PCE. Your donation will help us continue to provide first-class educational opportunities. We look forward to seeing you in class.

Sculpture students work with a variety of media in sculpture, and courses such as anatomy, figure modeling, foundry, mold making, carving, woodworking, welding, kinetic art, digital 2D to 3D processes, and installation provide introductions to technique as well as conceptual concerns. The department offers equal support for all students, from those who wish to concentrate in a particular process to those who work across disciplines or in more exploratory modes.

Support Student Awards for up-and-coming artists and designers at MassArt by making a gift through this page! Departmental awards are given at the end of each academic year to recognize student achievement and excellence.

The Studio for Interrelated Media (SIM) undergraduate major is designed for student artists interested in a curriculum that supports idea-centered, interdisciplinary, and non-media specfic artistic practice, alongside autonomous and collaborative working strategies and self-governance. The mission of the Studio for Interrelated Media is to conjure ambitious and unexpected experiences. It is to fail spectacularly, embrace chaos, invent new worlds, antagonize and enlighten, foster understanding and test limits. Every cohort shares the final challenge of redesigning the studio as a model for an alternative future. The SIM flies in the face of all that is Post Art – with humor, conflict, labor, and skill.

Studio Foundation is an essential part of the MassArt experience, giving students of all backgrounds the opportunity to discover the spectrum of art and design practices available to them. Gifts to Studio Foundation empower MassArt students to explore and  discover their passions!

The Enrique Rosa Scholarship honors Enrique Rosa, who has “raised” generations of MassArt students, staff and faculty. For the past 26 years, Enrique has served the college as an Institution Security Officer IV in Public Safety, and as we like to call him “The Heart of MassArt”.  He is often the person who is taking your picture for your ID. And when you see him after that he is the person who makes you feel safe, stops by to visit, shares his warmth, encouraging words and always has something to make you laugh.

We invite you to help us grow this special fund that will support sparc! the ArtMobile’s youth programming in perpetuity. Every gift — large and small will benefit youth art programs and scholarships throughout Boston’s neighborhoods!

Established in 2020 by Fern’s family and friends, this fund honors the artistic legacy of artist and educator Fern Cunningham-Terry. Fern created awe-inspiring monumental works of art that grace Boston’s landscape, and through her teachings shaped young minds utilizing art and design as catalysts. Her favorite quote from poet, Khalil Gibran was, “Work is love made visible.” Her bronze sculptures sited in Boston such as “Family Circle,” “The Value of a Life,” and “Step on Board,” show her love to us daily.

Hear from Fern’s son, Kahlil Allen, about the shared spirit between her mother’s work and that of sparc! the ArtMobile:

Heily Rivas Perdomo, the first recipient of the Fern Cunningham-Terry (FCT) Memorial Fund, experienced a transformative month in Ghana thanks to the endowment, where she participated in an artist residency at the Kokrobitey Institute.

During her time in Ghana, she explored traditional crafts such as kente cloth weaving, batiking, and basket weaving, while also gaining insights into the pressing textile waste crisis in the Kantamanto market.

“I am beyond grateful to Ekua Holmes, CACP, and the donors who support the Fern Cunningham-Terry Memorial Fund for allowing me the opportunity to spend a month in Ghana on a sustainable fashion artist residency and textile workshop. Over the course of 32 days, I immersed myself in the rich Ghanaian culture, spanning from cuisine to music, dance, and arts, and forged valuable friendships with incredibly talented, kind, and multi-faceted people with whom I hope to stay in constant touch.”

Please visit our sparc! blog to learn more about how sparc! collaborates with young people and their communities  by igniting art and design in the neighborhood!

MassArt’s The Shelf offers free non-perishable food and toiletries. It is open to ALL MassArt students. We saw the number of students who are food insecure increase by 16% last Spring, and this resource is being utilized more than ever as students return to campus, while still feeling the financial effects of the pandemic. It is currently essential that The Shelf has ample resources. When a student does not know where their next meal is coming from, they cannot focus on their education. You have the power to ensure that they have a selection of food available to them for free.

Student Testimonials:

“You are supporting needy ones like me in this hard situation. I cannot thank you enough for this help.”

“It was always quite comforting to know that The Shelf was an option for me as a student on and off campus. This resource has allowed me to seek out food knowing I would not be judged or have my circumstances questioned in any way. Student Development had always taken extra care to provide me privacy whenever I needed it, and support beyond the pantry when necessary, and it allowed me to build relationships with administrators as well as know my needs as a person and student were constantly being considered.”

Offering a variety of Youth Programs, MassArt believes in the importance of a quality arts education beginning in elementary school. We offer affordable, diverse programs for students in grades 3-12 that give students the ability to access the power of the arts for their future success.