Founded in 1873 as Massachusetts Normal School of Art, the college’s formal name has been changed on two previous occasions: in 1926 as Massachusetts School of Art, when it began granting a Bachelor of Science degree in Education, and in 1959 as Massachusetts College of Art, after receiving approval to offer a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.
Massachusetts College of Art + Design is one of the premier colleges of art and design in the United States, attracting students from across the country and around the globe. BusinessWeek magazine includes it among the Top Global Design Schools. According to a 2006 University of Toronto study, Boston is ranked second in North America as a center for design employment, and MassArt is the area’s primary educational institution preparing professionals for that industry.
As the college enhances its national and international reach in all areas of visual arts, the addition of “Design” to its official title more accurately reflects its full range of programs.
(L to R): Kay Sloan, President of Massachusetts College of Art + Design; Governor Deval Patrick; and Cheryl Warrick (BFA ’88), Chair of MassArt’s Board of Trustees. Photo: Sonia Targontsidis.
