Community is ‘central to museum practice’ – Clark Now

Clark University’s Master of Fine Arts in Visual Arts program will explore the role of museums and other arts institutions in the community during a symposium on Saturday, June 22. The “Civic Practice Symposium: Methods of Cultural Production” will feature three leaders in the art world. that have bridged cultural production in a context of civic space and community engagement. The program also sponsors four on-campus art lectures, June 25-28, which will be broadcast live.

The MFA in Visual Arts is a two-year, low-residency program that offers artists the opportunity to study at Clark and at the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (MASS MoCA), the largest contemporary museum in the United States. The program is “critique-based rather than studio-based,” which sets it apart from other MFA degrees, says Ben Sloat, visual artist and program director.

One of the symposium presenters is Nick Capasso ’81, director of the Fitchburg Art Museum (FAM). Capasso leads an ambitious housing project that converts buildings outside his institution into artist housing.

“Over the past decade, FAM has evolved from a 20th century model of museum practice, focused on the primacy of the art object, to a 21st century practice that places community at the center of museum practice,” says Capasso. “I will present several concrete examples from our curatorial and educational programs, and from our partnership work in community and economic development in Fitchburg.”

“Museums, especially small and regional institutions, can contribute significantly to the health and well-being of a community,” he adds. “And Clark’s MFA provides tremendous educational value in a region once devoid of advanced training in the visual arts.”

This is the Fitchburg Art Museum’s first collaboration with the new MFA program; Capasso says he hopes this won’t be the last. “FAM has a strong track record with Clark. Our staff has lectured at Clark, participated in undergraduate critiques, exhibited work by Clark students, and provided quality internships for Clark art history students.” Capasso serves as an alumni mentor for Clark students.

In 2022, the museum presented “American Roadsides: Frank Armstrong’s Photographic Legacy,” an exhibition featuring work by Clark faculty emeritus Frank Armstrong and several of his former Clark students, and in 2025 FAM will present a retrospective of the photography by professor Stephen DiRado.

Also presenting at Saturday’s symposium are Jameson Johnson, a writer, curator and community organizer based in Boston, and founder and executive director of Boston Art Review; and Mallory Ruymann, a curator, art consultant and art historian who works with emerging artists in all media. The presentations will be followed by a question and answer period.

Next week, the MFA in Visual Arts will present a series of Art Talks with the theme “A Fresh Start.” Each lecture takes place at 7:00 PM. in Razzo Hall and will be streamed live on ClarkMFA.org. The presenters include: