Institute for Art and Civic Engagement

Location:  Medford, MA
Project Description: 

The Institute for Art and Civic Engagement, a program of the School of the Museum of Fine Arts (SMFA) in Boston in partnership with Tisch College and the Museum of Fine Arts, serves as a catalyst for the development of creative ideas, programs, research and action. The Institute offers SMFA and Tufts students resources and support to engage in artistic research, projects, internships and other initiatives that contribute to the vitality of communities, both domestic and abroad; provides SMFA and Tufts faculty with resources and support for the advancement of creative research, scholarship, projects and other initiatives that embrace active citizenship as an integral component of their professional practice; and leverages the creative capital of each partner to meet common areas of mission, responsibility and concern, including scholarship, leadership, advocacy and activism. The Institute for Art and Civic Engagement (IACE) is an exciting initiative based in the SMFA's Artist's Resource Center (ARC) founded in partnership with the Jonathan M. Tisch College of Citizenship and Public Service (UCCPS) at Tufts University that will serve as a resource for students, faculty, and community members interested in art and its potential to impact contemporary issues in public life. The IACE will foster the development of partnerships with art, culture, research, education, healthcare, social service, business, and entrepreneurial ventures. It will also provide a place for research, dialogue, and program development in order that artists may serve as catalysts for change and communities may pilot innovative strategies to facilitate greater civic participation.