Mission

Artward Bound’s mission is to bring local voices of color to the forefront of the art and design industry. Artward Bound is the nation’s first art-centric college prep program. We support Boston-area high school students (without access to the arts) from freshman year through graduation. The Artward Bound program allows students to learn and practice their art, develop academic skills, and build community among peer artists and designers — all free of charge on the MassArt campus.

Dear Friends,

We are thrilled to be celebrating the 10th anniversary of Artward Bound. At MassArt, we are deeply committed to creating access and opening up opportunities to everyone. As the nation’s first and only independent public college of art and design, MassArt was founded on the idea that an art and design education enhances the well-being of individuals, communities, and economies. Since then, we’ve spent 150 years demonstrating the truly amazing things that happen when a world-class education is an option for every deserving student. Simply put, MassArt is a community of artists, designers, and makers from all walks of life, creating work that provokes and educates, bridges division, and fosters shared understanding.

For over 10 years, Artward Bound has extended that important mission to include talented and passionate Boston-area high-school students — outstanding young creatives with bold dreams of becoming artists, designers, makers, creative leaders, and innovators. Through intensive and holistic programming, our dedicated, hardworking staff provide Artward Bound students with the tools and support to succeed at the college level and beyond. Once they complete the program, Artward Bound students go on to lead and transform our communities, generate innovative solutions to the most pressing challenges facing us today, and build sustainable and equitable futures. They embody the limitless potential of art and design to make our world a better place, and it is our privilege and joy to support them on their journeys.

Thank you for celebrating this important milestone with us!