“Honoring and celebrating one’s culture is not an option,” says Jumaada A-K.H. Smith, chairperson of the Boston Juneteenth Committee. “We must increase knowledge, enhance and enrich our understanding of US history and thus ensure that it reflects the contributions of all people,” she emphasizes. “It is about the children, all children, even those to come. It is only fair to expose them to truth, life, and historic education. One way to do this is by participating in and attending events such as the Juneteenth Emancipation Observance. I hope you’ll join us this Juneteenth for a beautiful and meaningful day.”

In addition to the keynote address, the Observance features the reading aloud of General Order #3, the Emancipation Proclamation and the 13th  Amendment to the US Constitution, as well as the bestowal of the Ralph F. Browne Jr. Juneteenth Incentive awards given to people who have demonstrated exemplary civic engagement and social activism. Other fun activities such as dance demonstrations, drumming, face-painting and an Open Air Art Studio hosted by MassArt’s sparc! the ArtMobile with our newly painted van adds creativity, color and vitality to the day.

At the same time, Sobek's artistic vision is traveling across Boston through the exterior wrap he created for sparc! the ArtMobile. Together, the Chain Link Gallery and the ArtMobile extend the reach of Sobek's art—one rooted in place, the other moving through neighborhoods with an invitation to engage!

We're proud to share Sobek's work in these new ways and grateful for the opportunity to invite connection, reflection, and pride in our many communities.

Join CACP’s own Ivy Wong in a free printmaking workshop inspired by her vinyl wrapped kiosk installation across from the Chinatown T Stop. Learn how to design colorful abstract works with the shapes and textures of found objects! Open to all ages.

This piece is inspired by local artist Wen Ti Tsen’s “Chinatown Worker Statues” project, which memorializes the restaurant worker, garment worker, laundryman, and grandmother in bronze to commemorate and pay tribute to workers who performed historically essential labor that provided livelihood in the Chinese immigrant community. The items printed in this design are objects used by these workers, as physical representations of everyday care expressed in this community, both past and present. A bamboo steamer, a ball of twine, fruit mesh, incense, grains of rice, bamboo leaves, woven cloth, a frog button, a piece of embroidery. Through these references to simple cultural acts of sharing food, mending clothing, offering fruit or incense at an altar - Ivy illustrates that anyone is capable of care, and even small gestures are significant. The humble items included in this piece - cheap, commonplace, and often overlooked - can be powerful vessels and tools of care.

Join us for a celebration of Black liberation, resilience, and freedom. All are welcome to enjoy parades, music, community vendors, refreshments, award presentations, and guest speakers. Don’t miss sparc! the ArtMobile’s art studio where everyone will be invited to reflect and create.

Calling all emerging young artists! Registration for Summer Intensive and Creative Studios Youth Programs are closing soon! Youth Program’s Summer Intensive is open for artists entering grades 10-12 and their Creative Studios for grades 7-9. Join a community of creative problem solvers and experience MassArt before college. Registration ends May 31.

Learn More!

Join MassArt Art Museum (MAAM) for the final days of their popular spring exhibitions and celebrate the wrap of the school year at Twilight! Back by demand, enjoy a special screening of the critically-acclaimed 2001 animated feature Spirited Away by Studio Ghibli sensation Hayao Miyazaki. Experiment with hands-on artmaking fun and enjoy a complimentary mocktail to celebrate summer.

Register Here

The Roxbury Sunflower Project (RSP) Seed Giveaway has begun! Now in its ninth year, CACP’s Ekua Holmes’ Roxbury Sunflower Project is a multi-site public artwork, with large-scale sunflower installations blooming across Boston from May through September. Rooted in Ekua’s deep connection to Roxbury, the project began as a vision to spread beauty, hope, and collective care throughout the historically Black Boston neighborhood, where she has lived since childhood. All are welcome to take part!

Pick up your free sunflower seeds (with planting and care instructions) and help fill our neighborhoods with color, radiance, and vibrancy. Be sure to grab a Kid’s Kit for the young gardeners in your life, get creative with sparc! the ArtMobile team, and join a poetry workshop with Roxbury poets Toni Bee and Lisa Lee.

For best results, plant your seeds between May 15 and June 1, then share your blooms on Instagram using #roxburysunflowerproject.

Let’s grow something beautiful—together. 🌻

For more information, follow RSP on Facebook or email ekuaholmes@gmail.com

From vibrant patterns on masks to playful details on clay figures, each creation told a story. Community members shared the backstories behind their superheroes, emphasizing the connection between creativity and storytelling.

Staff from MassArt’s Youth Programs and teens from Artward Bound were also on site, sharing how local youth can engage with MassArt’s programs and promoting opportunities through Artward Bound.

We encourage families and young artists to visit the Youth Programs website to learn more about MassArt’s offerings, and the Artward Bound website to explore opportunities with their program!

We are grateful to Boston Comics in Color for fostering such a joyful and inclusive space for art, culture, and community, and we look forward to next year!

Join MassArt Art Museum (MAAM) for a special edition of Make with MAAM featuring artist, educator, and community facilitator Alex Adamo (Alex Makes Art)! Enjoy hands-on activities inspired by MAAM’s current exhibition Midnight March. Experiment with fiber arts in the Barkan Family Big Ideas Studio and gather inspiration from the work of visiting artist Alex Adamo during MAAM’s regular drop-in artmaking event.

The Boston Comics in Color Festival (BCICF) is a family-friendly event for all ages focusing on creators of color and stories by and about people of color. This event takes place in person at the Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center on the campus of Roxbury Community College (RCC) and is the first of its kind in the city of Boston. There will be event headliner(s); special guest speakers; panel discussions with working artist and writers, workshops, cosplay contest, live art demos, as well as an artist alley for comic creators to share and sell their books, materials, and artwork. 

sparc! the ArtMobile will be hosting an art making workshop that celebrates imagination and the creation of superhero characters. All ages are welcome to stop by, get creative, and design their own original hero.

Get your tickets today!

Join MassArt’s sparc! the ArtMobile for a special FREE 4-part portrait-making workshop series, “Faces + Stories,” designed for adults ages 55 and up! Co-sponsored by Age Strong Boston. 

On Thursday, April 9 and Thursday, April 16, Magda Leon will teach printmaking techniques. On Wednesday, April 22 and Wednesday, April 29, Beatriz Amelia will explore portraiture using charcoal drawing and collage. Whether you're new to art or a seasoned creator, you'll enjoy learning new techniques and creating artwork that reflects your story and identity. You are strongly encouraged to attend all four “Faces + Stories” workshop sessions. 

Details:

• FREE! All materials will be provided.

• Space is limited - registration is required!

• Lunch is provided.

• For ages 55 and up.

Register Here!

Join MassArt Art Museum (MAAM) for a special edition of Twilight at MAAM curated by MassArt Museum Attendants – MassArt students take over the museum for an evening of art and community featuring art-making, a signature mocktail, and more!

Register Here!

Nothing good happens after midnight…or does it? This February, MassArt Art Museum (MAAM)’s popular Twilight series goes late night to spotlight their current exhibition, Masako Miki: Midnight March.

Throughout the night, aerialists from Boston Circus Guild perform gravity-defying stunts suspended above Paine Gallery while live figure drawing models serve as inspiration for sketching alongside Makaso Miki’s colorful wool-felted forms.

Get creative with quirky projects in the Barkan Family Big Ideas Studio, enjoy a galactic-inspired mocktail that sparkles like the night sky, and don’t miss a special screening of the critically-acclaimed 2001 animated feature Spirited Away by Studio Ghibli sensation Hayao Miyazaki.

Register Here!

We’re excited to share two national recognitions that highlight the depth and impact of community engagement at MassArt—one honoring the institution as a whole, and the other recognizing the leadership and work of the Center for Art and Community Partnerships (CACP) and sparc! the ArtMobile!

Earlier this month, MassArt received the Carnegie Elective Classification for Community Engagement, one of the highest national distinctions recognizing colleges and universities for institution-wide commitment to reciprocal community partnership. Of the 237 institutions receiving the Classification nationwide, MassArt is the only independent art and design college to receive the designation—affirming the College’s distinctive role in advancing the public good through art, design, and community-engaged practice. The classification is valid through 2032.

Photo Credit: Jenna Dolber

Smiler Haynes was a friend to people of all ages and stages. She was a dynamic personality who brightened up any room she entered. We were fortunate to have her as a part of our community of creative seniors. 

She joined sparc! the ArtMobile for many hands-on creative endeavors including ART2GO, Paint Nights and Ornament making. Over the years we looked forward to her participation and words of encouragement and support. 

Please learn more about her phenomenal life and her Memorial here.

Discover the exciting world of artmaking! Now in its 95th year, MassArt’s Saturday Studios offers students in grades 3–12 a fun and supportive space to explore their artistic passions. From painting and drawing to printmaking, ceramics, photography, and more, our diverse range of classes sparks creativity and inspires young artists of all skill levels—whether picking up a paintbrush for the first time or refining your craft.

Led by Art Education Student Teachers under the guidance of expert faculty, Saturday Studios is not just about learning art but also about building connections and discovering new possibilities. No prerequisites, no portfolio reviews—just bring your imagination and a passion for art!

Scholarships are based on financial need and are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Register Here!

Celebrate the opening of the MassArt Art Museum (MAAM)'s newest exhibitions! Immerse yourself in a galactic world populated by mythical, wool sculptures in Masako Miki: Midnight March. And witness an enduring vision of equity, experimentation, and community in Press & Pull: Two Decades at the Robert Blackburn Printmaking Workshop. Enjoy complimentary beverages and small bites to round out the evening. It’s a party!

Register Here!