Massachusetts College of Art and Design

Massachusetts College of Art and Design

Fashion Program

Boston, MA

Most commonly known as Mass Art.  I wanted to find some safety schools, and because of this school being a independent public school, I thought this was a good place to start.  Boston is such a vibrant city - one in four people you meet on the streets in Boston is a college student!

This might be a good safety for some - students need a 3.0 grade point average in high school, SAT scores of 500/600 in reading; 470-580 in math; 490-510 in writing.  ACT scores required are 22/27.

 But don't treat this school too lightly - it looks like a fantastic place to study!

The college opened in 1873 as the first public college of art and the first to grant a degree.

Mass Art wanted to "better the Commonwealth of Massachusetts by producing drawing teachers as well as professional artists, designers and architects".  You don't see teaching as a profession listed first too often.

When they opened the doors the school's philosophy was to welcome anyone with talent and the will to succeed at a time when access for everyone was uncommon.  "Our history sets the direction for our future."

The courses available for a BFA in Fashion Design cover everything from the history of fashion, textile design, even tailoring

along with the classic drafting, sewing classes all the way through couture

Fashion Certificate programs

are also offered at Mass Art for those who don't want a 4 year degree. "Our curriculum encourages creative expression built on a foundation of tech development"  The school teaches jewelry design and metal working and some study abroad programs.First level fashion design students can study in Brazil - that would be cool.

I haven't found any famous fashion designers that the school could boast about but I did find this guy - Will Wegmanand Wegman's art of adorable dog photo's

Mass Art is the home to the largest contemporary art space in New England - the Bakalar & Paine GalleriesWhich are free and open to the public.  Nice opportunity for the students to be discoveredbut do they have any of the fashion students work on exhibit?

This photo was on the gallery web site and clearly a fashion show - but more snooping lead me to the answer of yesfashion design students exhibit as well.  Mass Art students are treated to free admission to the Museum of Fine Arts as well the Isabella Stewart Gardener Museum

This used to the home of Isabella Gardener before turning it into a museum displaying her vast collection of art.  Sweet.

The school is one of the five "The Colleges of Fenway" so the art students can take classes in other theory's if they wanted too.  MCPHS which educates people in the heath care field, as well as Emmanuel and Simmons Colleges.  All of this makes the city seem so open!  Mass Art has  three huge student dorms - including the "tree house" which boasts studio space! 

Although not the most well known, the school is competitive about gaining admissions.  If your high school doesn't have an art program, you will need to prove your passion for the arts by taking classes outside of schoolIn addition when applying a prospective student needs a 500 word essay on why this field of study is their passion, a portfolio of 10-15 of your best work, as well as a resume of your other activities.

 or did you play rec soccer all through high school?another language perhaps?

Mass Art clearly wants well rounded individuals.  So maybe we haven't heard of any famous fashion designers from this school - not yet anyway!  But maybe "somebody" started here, and finished somewhere else!  

Pam