BOSTON – Massachusetts College of Art and Design (MassArt) President Mary K. Grant recently announced that Frederick Wiseman, internationally renowned filmmaker, theater director, and chronicler of the human experience, will be among the six recipients of the 2024 MassArt Common Good Award. As he approaches his 95th birthday in January, Wiseman continues to captivate audiences with his artistic explorations of contemporary society, most recently with his 2023 film Menus-Plaisirs–Les Troisgros.
“Frederick’s films bring a distinct and exploratory lens to the intricacies of everyday life,” said President Grant. “Through his storytelling, he teases out the drama and humanity in the mundane, offering viewers a deeper understanding of the social fabric that binds us. His work exemplifies the enduring power of documentary filmmaking to reflect and connect us.”
Over a career spanning decades, Wiseman has directed more than 40 captivating documentaries that delve into the complexity of social institutions and human experience. Among his celebrated works is “Ballet,” which chronicles the day-to-day life of the American Ballet Theatre, and “In Jackson Heights,” a 2015 documentary about the vibrant community of Queens in NYC, which The New York Times named the thirteenth “Best Film of the 21st Century So Far” in 2017. His works provide an unflinching lens into the complexity of social institutions and human behavior, earning him some of the highest accolades in the arts world, including four Emmys, a Guggenheim Fellowship, and the prestigious Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the Venice Film Festival.
Beyond his documentary work, Wiseman is also a celebrated theater director, having helmed productions in Paris at La Comédie Française, including Samuel Beckett’s Oh Les Beaux Jours, and in New York at the Theater for a New Audience. His artistic vision has been immortalized in Frederick Wiseman, a comprehensive book of essays jointly published by Gallimard and the Museum of Modern Art.
Wiseman will be celebrated alongside five other distinguished honorees, including May Chau (BFA Arts Education ’07, Arts Education), Visual Arts Supervisor for Somerville Public Schools; Shirley Ann Session Edgerton, community activist, educator, and founder of Rites of Passage and Empowerment Program (R.O.P.E.); Toni Elka (BFA Painting ’86), founder of Future Chefs; Yinette Guzman (BFA Architecture ’08), Senior Project Manager of Design and Placemaking at the North Shore Community Development Coalition; and photographer Thaddeus Miles, Senior Director of Diversity Initiatives at MassHousing and founder of the Black Joy Initiative. Each honoree will receive a custom-made, inscribed artwork by Sam Kim, a Lowell-based ceramics artist and MassArt graduate (BFA Industrial Design and Ceramics ’18).
“This year’s Common Good Award recipients reflect the many ways artists can drive societal change, change perspectives, and honor the diversity that helps communities thrive,” said President Grant. “Each of these recipients have demonstrated innovative work in education, community building, and advocacy and stand as a testament to the essential role that creativity plays in shaping our collective future. We are honored to recognize their contributions to the common good.”
The MassArt Common Good Awards ceremony will take place on Saturday, December 7, 2024, at noon at MassArt’s Design and Media Center (621 Huntington Avenue, Boston). The event is free and open to the public, though tickets are required.
For more information on attending the event or learning about the MassArt Common Good Awards, visit www.massart.edu/massart-common-good-awards.
###
About Massachusetts College of Art and Design (MassArt)
Founded in 1873, Massachusetts College of Art and Design is the nation’s first public, independent college of art and design. The College is dedicated to fostering the creativity of artists, designers, and educators who will shape communities and culture for the common good.
About MassArt Common Good Awards
The MassArt Common Good Awards celebrate individuals and organizations who use art and design to make a positive impact on society. Honorees demonstrate the essential role of the arts in advocacy, education, and community development, contributing to the quality of life and problem-solving efforts in today’s world.
