History

Mid-1900's black and photo photo of students painting at easels

The Massachusetts Drawing Act, which became law in 1870, required most cities in the state to provide drawing instruction in public schools. The act was in response to the belief that art is vitally important to building a strong economy and thriving communities.

Art and design for all

At MassArt, we’ve always understood that art and design have the power to make positive change. We’re committed to providing an education and the promise of a future based on talent, ambition, and drive. As the nation’s first and only independent public college of art and design, we’ve worked to make a world-class education accessible to worthy students, regardless of their background or financial circumstances.

That belief in making art and design accessible to all extends into the community through exciting partnerships. These include bringing art to Boston’s public schools, hosting local community events, and supporting artists working for racial justice. Partnerships allow our students to connect and collaborate with our neighbors and communities.

A history of excellence. An eye on the future.

We were founded to provide challenging and forward-thinking academics to talented and committed students, and that hasn’t changed. Our highly respected programs are taught by globally recognized faculty who work side-by-side with students in cutting-edge facilities across our Boston campus.

Since 1873 we have grown and evolved in response to the needs of a changing world. Today, we are more committed than ever to partnership and progress, and to bringing all that we have to the work of empowering the next generation of artists, designers, and educators.

A Legacy of Pioneering Ideas and Ideals

Black and white illustration of a 19th-century industrial complex with multiple buildings, smoking chimneys, winding roads, and a river. A train is visible near tree-lined tracks in the foreground.

June 1869

Industrialists in Massachusetts petition the government to provide free industrial drawing to citizens of the Commonwealth.

An oval-framed portrait of an older man with a long white beard and a black hat, wearing a dark coat. The frame is ornate and gilded, featuring intricate designs. The background is dark, highlighting the subjects face.

1870-1881

Walter Smith is hired by the Commonwealth. Smith and his allies, Charles Callahan Perkins and Boston Schools Superintendent John Dudley Philbrick, called for the creation of a state school that would train art teachers and advance art education generally.

A text from an 1870 legal document outlines provisions for free drawing instruction in public schools and gives local governments the authority to annually provide industrial or mechanical drawing training.

May 18, 1870

The Massachusetts Drawing Act passes and drawing is now required to be taught in the public schools of cities and towns with populations over 10,000.

A vintage black-and-white photo of a quiet, curved street lined with multi-story brick row houses. Tall trees stand in the center of the street, and a few people are walking. A horse-drawn cart is visible. The scene is peaceful and historic.

1872–1873

Smith secures $7,500 to create Massachusetts Normal Art School which opens its doors in November 1873 at 33 Pemberton Square. Class lectures and one-to-one instruction in elementary drawing to qualify drawing teachers.

A vintage black and white photo of a city street featuring a multi-story building with ornate architecture. A man stands beside an early 20th-century car parked in front. Signs on the building include Boston Five Cents Savings Bank and Delano Hats.

1874–1875

Moves to 28 School Street

An open book showing pages 24 and 25 from a Massachusetts Normal Art School publication. The pages list Class D coursework in Sculpture and Design. The text includes certificate requirements, theory, and practical instructions.

1874–1903

Four 1-year programs: classes A, B, C, D. Certificate awarded for completion of each, diploma awarded for all four. A: Elementary Drawing (qualifies teachers); B: Form, Color, and Industrial Design; C: Constructive Arts (Architectural Drawing, Machine Drawing, Construction and Design, Descriptive Geometry, Topographical Drawing, Ship Draughting); D: Sculpture and Design in the Round.

A sepia-toned vintage photograph of a three-story building with a mansard roof, surrounded by bare trees. The building is enclosed by a low brick wall, with leafless branches indicating a winter setting.

1880

Moves to Deacon House, 1679 Washington Street.

A collage of six vintage illustrations. Top row: tile patterns, a pulley with chain, perspective drawing. Bottom row: a skeleton, botanical designs with plants and flowers. Each has a unique artistic style with detailed annotations.

1880

Addition of elective and non-studio courses.

A sepia-toned photo of a large, historic brick building with numerous windows, arched doorways, and intricate architectural details on the façade. The street in front is empty, with no visible people or vehicles.

1887

Massachusetts Normal Art School Building now at corner of Newbury and Exeter Streets.

Circular emblem with a stylized lamp at the top, surrounded by decorative lines. The text reads: MASSACHVSETTS NORMAL ART SCHOOL ALVMNI ASSOCIATION 1888. The design is vintage and intricate.

1888

Albert Munsell founds the Massachusetts Normal School Alumni Association.

A vintage sepia-toned photo shows a group of men and women in late 19th-century attire. They are posing on stone steps in front of a building, with women in dresses and men in suits and hats, creating a formal but amicable atmosphere.

1895

High school diploma required for admission.

A sepia-toned image of a historical factory setting with multiple men and women working at long wooden tables. They are wearing long coats and hats, involved in manual tasks, with large windows providing natural light.

1900

An annex Provides space for “crafts and shop” activities.

A group of women and a man in vintage clothing are gathered in a dimly lit room. Some are seated, and others stand around a sculpture. An easel with a painting is visible on the right. The image captures an early 20th-century art or gathering.

1903-1912

Five 4-year programs: Drawing, Painting, and Composition; Modeling and Design in the Round; Constructive Arts and Design; Decorative and Applied Design; Teaching Drawing in the Schools and Methods of Supervision.

A black and white photo of a group in an art studio. An older man operates a printing press while three women observe. Artworks and drawings are displayed on the walls behind them. The setting is likely a classroom or workshop.

1904

New courses: Sloyd (Scandinavian crafts-based education) and Mechanical Arts.

A technical drawing of a wooden structure with parallel beams and an adjacent cube. The illustration includes perspective lines and mathematical notations, suggesting a study of geometry and spatial relationships.

1911

Shop, Wood Construction, Arts and Crafts, Costume Design, Psychology, Pedagogy, English Composition and Criticism.

A group of students in a classroom seated at easels, focused on sketching portraits. The room is filled with wooden chairs and artwork in progress. The atmosphere is studious and creative.

1912–1915

11 programs: Applied Art in Public Schools; Applied Design and Interior Decoration; Modeling and Casting; Graphic Arts; Drawing and Painting; Mechanical Drafting; Architectural Drafting; Iron Working; Wood Working; Metal Work and Jewelry; Costume Illustration.

A black and white photo of thirteen women sitting and standing, posing formally. They are all dressed in modest early 20th-century clothing, with the caption Teacher Training below them. The background appears dark and plain.

1915–1922

14 programs: Art in Elementary Schols; Art in High Schools; Interior Decoration; Furniture; Leaded Glass, Metal Work; Jewelry; Modeling and Sculpture; General Illustration; Costume Illustration; Drawing and Painting; Mechanical Drafting; Architectural Drafting; Woodworking.

Sepia-toned newspaper photograph featuring seven individuals in elaborate costumes, including regal attire and flowing dresses, posed dramatically. The headline above reads “Cave-Girls, Kings and Empresses” with text detailing a Back Bay art school event.

June 1924

MassArt celebrates 50 years.

A black and white photo shows a woman working on a large sculpture relief. She holds a tool, refining the details of a draped figure carved into the stone. The sculpture depicts a seated, draped figure above and other shapes below.

1924

Bachelor of Science in Education awarded for completion of Teacher Training Program.

A vintage photo showing nine people in a classroom. Five women are seated on the floor, and four men are standing behind them. The room has a chalkboard with sketches and wooden walls with framed pictures. The group poses formally, wearing period clothing.

1925

Theater design and retail trade programs are added but retail trade is dropped as an undergraduate program the following year.

A vintage architectural drawing of a large building with an American flag. The structure is surrounded by trees and people walking on paths. A vintage car is parked on the street in front. The image has a sepia tone.

1930

Massachusetts School of Art building, 364 Brookline Avenue (corner of Longwood and Brookline Avenue.

People dressed in roman costume in a field

1922–1932

12 programs: Art in Elementary Schools; Art in High Schools; Interior Decoration; Costume Design; Commercial Design; Crafts Design; Textile Design; Fine Arts; Illustration; Modeling and Sculpture; Architectural Design; Machine Design.

A woman in a blouse and skirt sits on a wooden chair, painting a human figure on an easel. She holds a palette and brush, focused on her work. Several people sit in the background, observing. The setting appears to be a classroom or studio.

1932–1956

5 programs offered: Teacher Training; General Design; Costume Design; Drawing and Painting; Modeling and Sculpture.

Brown cover with bold navy blue text reading MSA at the top. Below, a stylized navy blue artists palette and three paintbrushes form the center design. The year 1943 is at the bottom in navy blue.

1941–1945

“With war threatening in 1941, the administration, faculty and students recognized the emergency, and changes conforming to the existing and pending needs here introduced. The school and its graduates can well be proud of the years 1941-1945.”
—1957 catalog

A vintage black-and-white photo shows a large group of people, mostly women, gathered around a decorated Christmas tree. The women are dressed in mid-20th-century attire, and some are holding small gifts. The setting appears festive and lively.

1950

Bachelor of Fine Arts awarded to students completing three programs: general design, drawing and painting, fashion design and illustration.

Three people are posing on ladders in front of a large, detailed sculpture of a face mounted on a wall. Art supplies and tools are scattered on tables and the floor in the foreground.

1954

Graduates of ceramic design program are awarded Bachelor of Fine Arts.

A person is shaping clay on a pottery wheel in a workshop. They are wearing a long-sleeve shirt and an apron. Shelves with pottery items and a window are visible in the background.

1956-1962

Teacher Education; Advertising and Product Design; Ceramic Design; Fashion Design and Illustration; Painting and Illustration.

A series of images showing a person using a roller to apply ink to wooden letterpress blocks. The left side displays the sequence of rolling, and the right has a column of text under the title advertising design.

1962–1967

6 programs: Teacher Education; Advertising Design; Ceramic Design; Fashion Design and Illustration; Painting and Illustration; Product Design.

A group of young adults casually gather outdoors on a grassy field with bare trees and a large building in the background. Some are observing painted canvases on the ground. The scene has a candid, social atmosphere.

1967–70

6 programs: Art Education; Ceramic Design; Fashion Design; Industrial Design; Painting; Graphic Design.

black artists union feature in the 1975 edition of the MassArt Journal

1969

The Black Artists Union was started in the spring 1969. “Our purpose is to create the new positive images that are necessary for the continued survival of our people. We are dedicated to bringing about those changes that are essential to the founding of a strong black nation.”

A person with a beard and glasses is shaping clay on a pottery wheel in a workshop. They are focused on their work, wearing a white T-shirt. Nearby are a bucket and shelves against a plain wall. The scene is in black and white.

1970–1972

14 programs: Ceramics; Critical Studies; Dimentional Design; Sculpture; Environmental Arts; Fashion Design and Illustration; Filmmaking; Graphic Design; Industrial Design; Interrelated Media; Painting; Photography; Printmaking; Teacher Training. Also Master’s of Science in Art Education program was created.

An art curator speaks to a seated audience in a gallery. The walls display colorful abstract installations with organic shapes and textures. The floor is light wood, and the atmosphere is one of focused attention and interest.

1981–2000

20 BFA Programs offered. Crafts subdivided into four programs: Ceramics, Fibers, Glass, and Metals. Art Education programs redefined as Studio Education, Museum Education, and Certification. The M.F.A. programs are redefined as 2D Fine Arts, 3D Fine Arts, Design, and Media and Performing Arts. The Continuing Education program makes B.F.A. available on a part-time basis and offers an evening Graphic Design program.

1983

Eight buildings at the corner of Huntington and Longwood Avenues formerly occupied by Boston State College.

A VHS cassette tape lies on a white surface, featuring a black plastic casing. The tapes clear spools with magnetic tape are visible on either side, with labeling instructions at the top edge for insertion direction.

1988

Minor in Video is offered.

A detailed architectural illustration of a five-story building labeled Smith. The building features symmetrical windows, red doors, and a central archway. A cloudy sky serves as the backdrop.

1989

MassArt opens its first dormitory on Huntington Avenue: Walter Smith Hall.

Black-and-white illustration of a cityscape featuring the Massachusetts College of Art. Includes various buildings, cars, and trees, with a prominent high-rise in the foreground. Massachusetts College of Art, Summer 83 is printed at the bottom.

1992

MassArt completes $14,700,000 project to refurbish the Huntington campus.

A vibrant abstract image featuring a swirl of vivid colors, including pink, purple, red, and green. The colors blend smoothly, creating a fluid and dynamic appearance reminiscent of a nebula or colorful gradient.

2000

Dynamic Media Institute (DMI) MFA in design created.

A modern, multi-story brick apartment building with large glass sections and numerous windows. The structure stands tall against a clear sky, with trees and a street lamp visible in the foreground.

2002

Artist Residence dormitory opens.

Professionals in business attire see walking down the sidewalk in front of the MassArt sign on the Tower building.

2008

Massachusetts College of Art changes its name to Massachusetts College of Art and Design.

A cityscape view shows a tall, modern orange building contrasting with surrounding structures. A busy street lined with trees and cars runs between them. The sky is clear and the sun casts a warm glow on the scene.

2012

Treehouse residence hall opens.

A woman wearing a bright yellow jumpsuit and glasses stands in a stylish indoor event. She has a yellow feathered accent and a matching bag. People are mingling in the background near round tables with blue tablecloths.

December 2016

Alumna Erin Robertson, ’16 BFA Fashion Design & Fibers, wins Season 15 of Lifetime TV’s Project Runway.

Massachusetts College of Art and Design (MassArt) Design and Media Center on Huntington Avenue in Boston, MA.

2016

Designed by Ennead Architects, the MassArt Design and Media Center (DMC), three-story glass façade at 621 Huntington Avenue, prominently positioned on Boston’s Avenue of the Arts is comprised of 40,000 square feet of new space for the College.