Founded by the Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) in Boston, SMFA began as a school for drawing and painting. Fultineer shares that early on, two of the school’s instructors traveled to France, saw the new Impressionist movement, and wanted to bring that back to Boston. This openness for experimentation became a defining characteristic. SMFA stood out for its forward-thinking approach and training emerging artists, including women, at a time when that was uncommon. The school also became a refuge during World War II, welcoming artists and designers who came to Boston during that time and brought new creative practices.
Several milestones have contributed to SMFA’s evolution. The opening of the museum’s new “A side” building in 1928 (its current location at 230 Fenway in Boston) established an expanded space directly across from the MFA, elevating the school’s stature and its capacity to teach. In 1968, SMFA’s distinctive review boards were established. Each semester, SMFA at Tufts students present their semester’s work to a panel of faculty and peers, engaging in critique and in-depth discussion.
Fultineer says Tufts University was visionary in acquiring the art school from the MFA in 2016—a major turning point that allowed SMFA to fully integrate SMFA students and faculty into the University and expanded educational opportunities. Today, all SMFA at Tufts students receive a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, with combined degree students also receiving a Bachelor of Arts or Science. The combined degree program is now the largest of its kind in the country, with more than 300 students enrolled.
Fultineer notes the breadth of Tufts’ academic offerings in arts and sciences attracts students who are curious and eager to experiment across disciplines. “It’s another reason why the school has endured—and we have become progressively more stable and robust,” she says.
Students at SMFA at Tufts develop technical and professional skills through five-hour studio classes that foster the discipline of concentration in a time of social media and other distractions. Equally important is learning how to present and discuss their work with instructors, peers, and art professionals. Expanded access to residencies, fellowships, and internships further supports career development. “The skills they learn are key to an art education but also recognized as important to success out in the world,” says Fultineer.
SMFA also collaborates across campus and beyond. For example, a recent collaboration with Tisch College of Civic Life and a non-profit in Boston’s Chinatown resulted in a community-based art project exhibited at 230 Fenway. “SMFA is contributing not only art but also an artistic view of the world to the Tufts community in all sorts of interactions,” says Fultineer, noting that such initiatives broaden students’ perspectives and experience of working in a civic-minded way.
The annual SMFA Art Sale, held each December, exemplifies the school’s collaborative spirit. This festive, longstanding tradition is the largest contemporary art fair in New England, bringing together alumni, students, faculty, administrators, and the public. Proceeds from the event directly support student financial aid.
Reflecting on SMFA’s 150th, Fultineer sees achievement and opportunity. “This anniversary has been an extraordinary opportunity to take stock in all the ways we have grown and led—and then to embrace how we continue to do that,” she says. Looking ahead, she believes artists will play a vital role in an AI driven world, emphasizing “SMFA students are prepared to engage in complex problem solving and imagine new possibilities.”
“Students here are exceptionally talented and motivated,” Fultineer adds. “We have tremendous confidence in them and feel very privileged to support them, because they are the ones who will shape the future.”
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