Through the Years

2008

Kay Sloan, MassArt’s 11th President, initiates a working group on pathways for high school students to MassArt. Surdna Foundation provides a grant for program planning.

2009

Jennifer Kilson-Page, consultant to MassArt on diversity and access, and Sandy Weisman, Director of Gallery Education, co-lead a year-long planning effort.

2010

Planning for recruitment of the first cohort and hiring of the first AB Director. Anne Marie Stein, Dean of Graduate and Continuing Education, and Liz Reiser, Director of Youth Programs co-lead the build-out of the program. Funding is secured for program launch from the Surdna Foundation, the Harold Whitworth Pierce Charitable Trust, and the MacMillan–Stewart Foundation.

2011

Tracey Boler is hired as Artward Bound’s first Director. The first cohort of 30 students is welcomed - 15 rising 8th graders and 15 rising 9th graders. Initial recruitment is every other year.

2012

Artward Bound moves to Smith Hall, the first space on the MassArt campus dedicated to Artward Bound.

2013

Elisabeth Dorsey is hired as Artward Bound’s second Director. Recruitment of Cohort 2.

2014

Carolyn Lewenberg becomes Acting Director of Artward Bound.

2015

Recruitment of Cohort 3. From this point forward, Artward Bound recruits a new class every year. The first half of Cohort 1 graduates. Chandra Méndez-Ortiz is hired as Artward Bound’s third Director.

2016

The Artward Bound Scholarship is officially created. The second half of Cohort 1 graduates. Artward Bound Ambassadors, a group of student leaders, is established in the summer of 2016.

2017

Cohort 2 graduates. Artward Bound launches a new four-year curriculum model to support students in developing their college portfolio and artistic practice. The first-ever Artward Bound logo is designed collaboratively by Artward Bound student Gersom Rivera and MassArt alum Scott Keosung.

2018

The largest AB class yet, Cohort 6, is recruited with 17 students.

2019

Launch of AB Zone (inspired by Artward Bound student Jose Rodriguez), a venue for academic support. The Office of Justice Equity and Transformation (JET) is created in response to MassArt’s Strategic Plan. Artward Bound and Compass officially join the JET Office. Artward Bound moves to the Tower Building, 11th floor. Cohort 3 graduates.

2020

Artward Bound shifts to online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. Cohort 4 graduates with a farewell speech at graduation by MA State Representative Ayanna Pressley.

2021

Artward Bound returns partially to the MassArt campus. Cohort 5 graduates. A trio of Artward Bound alumni graduate from MassArt, the first students to complete the eightyear high school to college model. Six students from Cohort 5 enroll at MassArt, the largest group yet.

2022

Artward Bound returns fully to the MassArt campus. Cohort 6 graduates. Artward Bound receives an award from the City of Boston for Sustainable Futures.

2023

Cohort 7 graduates. Launch of new Artward Bound logo, designed by MassArt alum Xinlin Huang. After pandemic-related delays, Artward Bound celebrates its 10-year anniversary.