BOSTON (May 7, 2025)—This spring, the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (MFA), celebrates the 20th anniversary of the Community Arts Initiative—a program through which the Museum partners with community organizations to introduce young people ages six through 14 to the MFA’s collection and the art-making process. Every year the MFA selects an artist to work with the students and create a large-scale collaborative artwork that is presented in the Linde Family Wing for Contemporary Art. The 2025 exhibition, Community Arts Initiative: Into the Forest, was led by Boston-based artist Szu-Chieh Yun (born 1988) and is on view from May 16 through October 26, 2025.

Over the course of seven months, Szu engaged more than 190 students in a world-building exercise focused on nature and landscapes. Through sessions focused on experimental drawing, painting, and collage, students were empowered to imagine their own path in life using the forest as a metaphor. Their collaborative artwork reflects their joy, fear, playfulness, and feelings towards their family and friends. In addition to the collaborative mural, Into the Forest showcases an original work by Szu—created specifically for the exhibition—alongside highlights from the MFA’s collection including contemporary and modern paintings as well as Nubian, Egyptian, and Japanese pottery and stoneware.

“We’re excited to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Community Arts Initiative, especially all of the youth artists from past years and this upcoming installation,” said Darcy-Tell Morales, Patti and Jonathan Kraft Chief of Learning and Community Engagement. “Community is at the heart of our work, and it is an honor to be a part of this deeply meaningful collaboration between the museum, the community organizations, and the lead artist, through which young people discover how art is an important part of their lives.”

Through the Community Arts Initiative, the MFA works with 12 community organizations: Berkshire Partners Blue Hill Boys & Girls Club, Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center, Charlestown Boys & Girls Club, Boys & Girls Clubs of Dorchester, Edgerley Family South Boston Boys & Girls Club, Jordan Boys & Girls Club, Orchard Gardens Boys & Girls Club, Sociedad Latina, United South End Settlements, Vine Street Community Center, West End House Boys & Girls Club of Allston-Brighton, and Yawkey Boys & Girls Club of Roxbury. Each partner is assigned an MFA Community Arts Liaison, who works closely with the organization’s staff to promote and coordinate MFA sessions, assist with events, and develop art projects at the Museum and community centers.

The lead artist for the Community Arts Initiative Artist Project is selected through a jury process, consisting of MFA staff, a community partner director, and an academic art professional. Past artists include Timothy Hyunsoo Lee (Our Family Portrait); Alexandra Adamo (From Farm to Craft Table); Perla Mabel (Empowered Faces); Chanel Thervil (Patterns of Greatness); Sarah Pollman (Exchange Codes); Sneha Shrestha (Mindful Mandalas); Rhonda Weppler (Endless Feast); Julie Martini’s (Building with Light); Maria Molteni (Second Hands); Hilary Zelson (Elemental); Jake Fried (Experiments in Animation); Andrew Oesch (Characters in the Collection); Hannah Burr (Fresh Eyes); Raul Gonzalez (And their Families); Caleb Neelon (Signs and Symbols); Adrian Rodriguez (Paper Telephone); Shirah T. Rubin (Making Heroes); Susannah Lawrence (Giant Inspirations); and Evelyn Rydz (Blueprint Voyage Project).

Sponsors

The Community Arts Initiative is generously supported by the Linde Family Foundation.

About the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

The MFA brings many worlds together through art. Showcasing masterpieces from ancient to modern, our renowned collection of more than half a million works tells a multifaceted story of the human experience—a story that holds unique meaning for everyone. From Boston locals to international travelers, visitors from across the globe come to experience the MFA. Through both art and audience, the Museum brings together diverse perspectives—revealing connections, exploring differences, creating a community where all belong. Plan your visit at mfa.org.