Community Arts Initiative: The Artist Project (US)

The Artist Project is a collaboration between the MFA and twelve after-school community organizations in the Boston area. The Artist and the children create a collaborative work of art inspired by the Museum’s encyclopedic collection.

Each year a new experienced artist with a passion for community arts plans and leads a project with children between the ages of six and twelve. The role of the Lead Artist is to guide the children and steer the work of art into its final exhibited shape.

Funding Information

• The MFA provides the selected artist with a stipend of $50,000 and a budget of $5,000 for materials. The Lead Artist works with MFA staff and collections and is recognized across all exhibition materials including postcards and the MFA website.

Eligibility Criteria

• Experienced artists with demonstrated ability to complete large-scale projects involving different elements, community partners, and groups of children.

Judging Criteria

• Judges review applications for:
  • Engagement: The Lead Artist engages visitors and participants with the MFA’s collection and uses a variety of media in innovative, creative, and exciting ways.
  • Creativity: The project draws from the MFA’s collections and reflects the Artist’s style.
  • Feasibility: The project can be completed within the time frame and materials budget provided.
  • Clarity: The Artist conveys a clear vision of how the final work of art will be exhibited within the gallery space.
  • Flexibility: The project allows for multiple participants and considers after-school variables such as children leaving a session early, arriving late, or only participating in one session.

Selection Criteria

• Each year a different panel, typically composed of an MFA Curator, Art Educator, Artist, and a Community Art Director reviews applications and recommends three final candidates. The Lead Artist is then selected by the MFA Linde Family Director of Community Arts, the MFA Manager of the Community Arts Initiative, the MFA Manager of Community Arts, a Community Art Director, and other MFA staff members following interviews of the final candidates.

For more information, visit MFA.