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The Creative Student's Guide to Boston Art Education and Careers

...for students of art, design, fashion design, photography, film/video, advertising, interior design and other creative fields.

Visit our Complete Directory of
Boston Art Schools and Art Colleges

by C.J. Gustafson
ArtSchools.com Contributing Writer

Originally a native settlement in the early 1600s known as "Shawmet," Boston outgrew its puritanical beginnings to become a social hub of North American life, with international trade filling its port and students crowding its universities. Today, Boston is a physically small city at approximately 49 sq. miles, but home to nearly 600,000 residents. Those figures double on a daily basis as people commute from the suburbs.

Boston Although the average winter low temperature in Boston is 20° F, there have been some legendary snowstorms and cold snaps. Fall in New England is magnificent, and Boston has some of the best fall colors around. Daytime summer temperatures average around 80 °F. Throughout the year, the city experiences an average number of sunny days and receives approximately 40 inches of precipitation annually.

In addition to the subway, the Boston Transit Authority, known as the "T", offers daily bus, train and trolley service at reasonable prices. Hundreds of thousand of people commute to Boston each day, and it is possible to find housing outside the city and ride public transportation to school. A health-conscious community, many Bostonians living and working inside the city prefer to walk or ride bicycles.

The city is a melting pot of tastes, interests and ethnic cultures. The most famous cultural influence is the that of the Irish, who came to Boston during in droves during the immigration boom of the mid-late nineteenth century. Boston was also the only North American stop on the 1997 world tour of "Leonardo Da Vinci: Scientist-Inventor-Artist."

Da Vinci was not the only artist drawn to Boston's historical, educational and cultural facets. Today, the city hosts over 40 listed private and public art galleries, including the well-known Institute for Contemporary Art and the Gallery @ Green Street, an alternative exhibition space located in a subway station. These galleries provide a multitude of opportunities for those looking to pursue art careers (such as restorers and gallery directors), exhibit their work, or simply to admire the collections of popular and emerging artists.

A popular section of town along Newbury Street houses over twenty of Boston's most prestigious art galleries. Nearby, in an area known as SOWA, a group of artists live and work in their own growing community.

Boston Harbor "There is an authentic Old World feeling in the city's North End and a very traditional and grounded feeling through the South End," says Laurel Mulherin, an intern at the Boston Society of Arts & Crafts and an Art History major at Wheaton College. "And [there are] many worlds, people, shops, restaurants, cafes, galleries, opportunities, faces, places and world views to discover in between."

Educational Opportunities

In addition to the many opportunities to exhibit and to work and live in close proximity to other artists, Boston also offers over twenty schools and universities with programs created specifically for students seeking visual arts degrees. Art Institute of Boston at Lesley, The New England Institute of Art (Boston), Massachusetts College of Art, Gibbs College - Boston, Heartwood College of Art, and School of the Museum of Fine Arts are all art schools that gear their programming toward students seeking advertising degrees, graphic design degrees, and other fields of study leading to art careers.

The Boston Architectural Center offers degrees in architecture and interior design. Boston University, Metropolitan College has a Graduate program for those pursuing careers in art administration. The School of Fashion Design and the New England School of Photography each offer degrees in their respective fields.

Boston University, Harvard's Extension School, Emerson College's Department of Visual and Media Arts, Simmons College, Suffolk University - New England School of Art and Design, University of Massachusetts - Boston's Art Program, Emmanuel College and Boston College's Fine Arts Department are all general colleges and departments offering programming in the arts.

Boston art student In keeping with Boston's slightly higher standard of living, tuition at most schools is above the national average, typically running upwards of $10,000 for a semester of full classes. Financial aid packages are available, and many schools offer on-campus housing and meal plans. Visual arts students who choose to live off-campus should plan to spend at least $1000 per month on rent for a one-bedroom apartment. However, with the large community of artists residing in the area, roommate situations are abundant.

The Butera School of Art, Copley Society, Kajiao Studio, and The Boston Photo Collaborative- Photography School are examples of smaller centers and agencies offering workshops and certificates in a variety of arts areas.

The city is also home to the Boston Arts Academy a rare example of a high school dedicated to students who wish to focus on art and design careers.

Entertainment

On days where students need to take a break from studying or creating, Boston offers a wide variety of attractions and entertainment. Nightlife abounds with hundreds of trendy clubs, and there also are numerous historical sites and museums. Neighborhood and citywide visual art events and festivals are common throughout the warmer months. Of course, one could spend weeks just exploring the many galleries and artists studios.

Other Opportunities

As testament to the city's support and encouragement of the visual arts, Boston has numerous organizations devoted to the enhancement of artists and their work. The New England Foundation for the Arts, the Women's Caucus for Arts, and the Artists Foundation are just a few of the resources available to provide exposure and funding. Additionally, the city is home to several arts publications and television programs. About the Arts is a weekly show on cable channel 23, which spotlights local artists and presents original arts programming.

For those seeking to pursue visual arts degrees or careers in a bustling environment with rich historical and artistic opportunities, Boston has much to offer. For more information on this classic American city, visit the Boston Globe's website, the Greater Boston Convention and Visitors Bureau, or the city's official website.