Massachusetts College of Art and Design

Massachusetts College of Art and Design, commonly known as MassArt, is a public college of visual and applied arts located in Boston, Massachusetts. Founded in 1873, it is one of the nation’s oldest publicly funded art and design institutions. The college offers undergraduate and graduate programs across disciplines such as fine arts, design, architecture, art education, and media arts. As a member of the Colleges of the Fenway consortium, it provides students with access to cross-registration and shared resources in a major urban academic setting. Massachusetts College of Art and Design attracts students seeking intensive studio-based training combined with liberal arts study in a public higher education environment.

Massachusetts College of Art and Design was founded in 1873 as the Massachusetts Normal Art School in Boston, Massachusetts. Established by the Commonwealth to train drawing teachers for public schools, it was among the first publicly funded art schools in the United States. Under its first president, Walter Smith, the institution emphasized industrial drawing and teacher preparation during a period when Massachusetts mandated art education in public schools. In 1924, the school became the first art institution in the country to grant a degree in art education. It was renamed the Massachusetts School of Art in 1929 and later Massachusetts College of Art in 1959, reflecting its expanded academic offerings. In 2004, it adopted the name Massachusetts College of Art and Design. Over time, Massachusetts College of Art and Design expanded its campus along Huntington Avenue and broadened programs in fine arts, design, and media, shaping its modern identity as a public art and design college.