Community Arts Initiative: The Artist Project—Call to Artists

The Artist Project is a collaboration between the MFA and twelve after-school community organizations in the Boston area. The Artist and the children create a collaborative work of art inspired by the Museum’s encyclopedic collection. The completed project is exhibited in the Edward H. Linde Gallery (168) in the Linde Family Wing for Contemporary Art at the MFA.

Learn more about the Artist Project

Each year a new experienced artist with a passion for community arts plans and leads a project with children between the ages of six and twelve. The role of the Lead Artist is to guide the children and steer the work of art into its final exhibited shape.

The MFA provides the selected artist with a stipend of $50,000 and a budget of $5,000 for materials. The Lead Artist works with MFA staff and collections and is recognized across all exhibition materials including postcards and the MFA website.

Online Information Session

Saturday, January 4, 2025
10:00 am11:30 am

Join the discussion to learn more about the project! Hear the experiences of an artist and ask questions of your own! This conversation will take place on the Zoom platform.

For more information and to RSVP please e-mail artistproject@mfa.org.

Important Dates

Application Deadline

January 17, 2025

Notification

March 21, 2025

Application Process

In an attempt to be more environmentally-friendly we now request that artists submit applications online through Submittable.

Submissions are reviewed by a panel composed of representatives from the MFA and participating community organizations.

The Artist works with the Manager of the Community Arts Initiative to schedule four to six visits, lasting approximately 2.5 hours, with each of the twelve organizations. Visits typically take place between the hours of 3:00 pm and 8:00 pm at the MFA and community centers during after school hours. The Artist must be available all of the week days that the MFA is open until 10:00 pm in order to accommodate group visits to the Museum.

Application Deadline: January 17, 2025

Notification: March 21, 2025

Initial Planning Meetings: July 2025

Sessions Begin: October 2025

Sessions End: April 2026

Installation: April/May 2026

Artist Project Exhibition Opening: May 2026

Experienced artists with demonstrated ability to complete large-scale projects involving different elements, community partners, and groups of children.

Judges review applications for:

Engagement

The Lead Artist engages visitors and participants with the MFA's collection and uses a variety of media in innovative, creative, and exciting ways.

Creativity

The project draws from the MFA’s collections and reflects the Artist’s style.

Feasibility

The project can be completed within the time frame and materials budget provided.

Clarity

The Artist conveys a clear vision of how the final work of art will be exhibited within the gallery space.

Flexibility

The project allows for multiple participants and considers after-school variables such as children leaving a session early, arriving late, or only participating in one session.

Each year a different panel, typically composed of an MFA Curator, Art Educator, Artist, and a Community Art Director reviews applications and recommends three final candidates. The Lead Artist is then selected by the MFA Linde Family Director of Community Arts, the MFA Manager of the Community Arts Initiative, the MFA Manager of Community Arts, a Community Art Director, and other MFA staff members following interviews of the final candidates. For more information please email artistproject@mfa.org.

Gallery Space

The completed project is exhibited in the Edward H. Linde Gallery (168) in the Linde Family Wing for Contemporary Art at the MFA. Check out this slideshow to see the space allocated to the Artist Project.

About Community Arts Initiative

The MFA currently partners with twelve community organizations including Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center (BCNC), the Boys & Girls Clubs of Dorchester, Sociedad Latina, United South End Settlements (USES), West End House Boys & Girls Club of Allston-Brighton, and Vine Street Community Center. Additionally, we are also proud to partner with six of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston: Berkshire Partners Blue Hill Boys & Girls Club, Charlestown Boys & Girls Club, Edgerley Family South Boston Boys & Girls Club, Gerald and Darlene Jordan Boys & Girls Club, Orchard Gardens Boys & Girls Club, and the Yawkey Boys & Girls Club of Roxbury. The Artist meets with approximately 10-15 children per session. The participating children meet with the Artist after school during their scheduled visits.

Along with support from the Community Arts Initiative staff in the Museum's Learning and Community Engagement Division, the MFA also employs a Community Arts Liaison for each of the community centers. MFA Liaisons assist the Lead Artist during each session.

Learn More About the Community Arts Liaisons

Community center art directors are also available to assist during sessions. MFA staff from the curatorial, exhibition, and facilities departments support the exhibition installment.

Past Artist Projects

Sponsors

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

Questions About the Artist Project?

E-mail artistproject@mfa.org for additional information.