Content with Institutions : Massachussetts College of Art

Artist as citizen: Art and Community Service course

At the Massachusetts College of Art, a course entitled Art and Community Service emphasizes the artist s role as an active citizen by finding socially meaningful outlets for students creativity. In addition to readings and frequent journal writings, students in the class are required to develop an art-related community service project. In the past, students in the class have helped design brochures for local nonprofits, painted murals for local schools, and visited hospitals to provide art therapy for patients. From Service Matters 1998: Engaging Higher Education In the Renewal of America s Communities and American Democracy Website

Co-curricular art-based community programs

Through co-curricular programs, students have the opportunity to work outside the classroom on art-based community programs. One example is a team of six students who worked with an anti-youth violence agency to create a “national peace sculpture” made out of five thousand toy guns turned in by children across the country. The sculpture is a permanent installation at the Capitol Children s Museum in Washington DC. Students also coordinate an after-school program for second graders, and serve as mentors. Called “Sharing Our Stories,” this America Reads program was designed by the College to improve the literacy skills of children through…