Studying Art in Boston · Inside Admissions | Tufts Admissions

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Artist Community

The Pro-Arts Consortium is an association of nearby colleges dedicated to the visual and performing arts, where SMFA at Tufts students can cross-register and make friends. Artist hubs including SoWa Art + Design District, Fort Point Arts Community, and Brickbottom Artists Association provide networking and exhibition opportunities for students and a landing pad for creative practices post-graduation. The working-artist faculty who teach SMFA at Tufts studio art courses plug students and alumni into their wide-ranging creative networks and projects here in Boston and around the world.

Creative Economy

Boston is the economic, cultural, and educational hub of New England. Countless companies, firms, publishers, and galleries land here to grab top talent emerging from the dozens of colleges in and around the city. The National Endowment for the Arts and U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis reported in April 2025 that arts and culture contribute an estimated $29.7 billion in economic value in Massachusetts and that 130,263 individuals are employed in our state’s creative workforce. Ninety-seven percent of SMFA at Tufts 2024 graduates were employed, enrolled in graduate school, or in a service/fellowship program within six months of graduation. And eighty-six percent of Tufts students complete at least one internship, with SMFA at Tufts’ Artist Resource Center providing specialized arts, media, and communications career support.

Infinite Inspiration

The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston is SMFA at Tufts’ next-door neighbor and historic partner, offering immersion in a massive permanent collection alongside professional development and exhibition opportunities. The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum is SMFA at Tufts’ other next-door neighbor on the Avenue of the Arts, offering an internship program exclusive to SMFA students and a historic collection in serene surroundings. And heavy hitters like the Institute of Contemporary Art in the Seaport and the Harvard Art Museums expand the map of incredible art institutions nearby. The Greenway Public Art Program, the Boston Public Art Triennial (whose founder and Executive Director is SMFA alumna Kate Gilbert), and Street Theory (whose Creative Director is SMFA alumnus Victor Quiñonez), are leading the charge in Boston’s public art renaissance, showcasing the work of SMFA alumni throughout the Greater Boston Area.

Of equal importance, studying art (and then being an artist) in Boston is FUN. We’ve got amazing DIY publications and music scenes, so many artist markets and cultural events to attend or vend, and receptions and events happening all the time. Moral of the story: come study art in Boston (and, in fact, at SMFA at Tufts).

Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. About the Author Julia Dudley-Kramer Associate Director of Admissions View Bio & Articles Tufts University Office of Undergraduate Admissions Bendetson Hall 2 The Green Medford, MA 02155 617-627-3170 Visit tufts.edu Contact Tufts Admissions Non-Discrimination Statement Privacy Statement Instagram Discover Tufts Tuition & Aid Connect With Us

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