The MCLA Institute for the Arts and Humanities (MCLA-IAH) is a grant-funded initiative, supported by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, which works to strategically promote equity-centered change on campus and in the community by expanding access to area arts and humanities resources, catalyzing opportunities for interdisciplinary engagements, and advancing experiential teaching and learning practices in higher education.
Visit the Sm[ART] Commons blog for additional information about community events and testimonials from current and past MCLA-IAH interns.
Want an IAH T-shirt? Fill out the form HERE! (Supplies are limited)
October 2021 - In the INSCAPES Project, students will celebrate their favorite places around campus and Berkshire county in the form of couplets which can then be submitted to be featured around campus.
October 2021 - Hosted by MCLA’s Institute for the Arts and Humanities, students and North Adams community members were able to attend a silent disco, a recent trend where attendees are given headphones and have the ability to individually choose the kind of music they wish to dance to.
July 2021 - As the ILC presented their first six months of work at MCLA’s IAH summer symposium, the whole virtual room became “Accountability Buddies.” In the panel conversation with MCLA, they gathered to share their progress and next steps, and VanSant asked the audience to consider their own place in the story of anti-racism.
June 2021 - “Why are these green beans so hard? / That’s because they are edamame." Declan McDermott reflected on the Korean Garden in North Adams.
May 2021 - NORTH ADAMS, MASS.— The MCLA Institute for the Arts and Humanities (IAH) will host its annual Summer Symposium from Tuesday, June 1–Thursday, June 17, 2021. The four-part Zoom event is produced in collaboration with BRIDGE Inc.’s Inclusive Leadership Cohort (ILC), Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation (BTCF), Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC), and the Berkshire Cultural Assets Network (BCAN), and is free and open to the public.
July 2020 - “At first I wondered if I was qualified,” said Thomas, “but I did find that I did have experiences and was able to help people talk about those experiences too. That really meant a lot to me.”
March 2020 - "I’m excited about this new Arts and Humanity Institute which will center equity, access, inclusion, and diversity for and with its surrounding community. Also, this work is deeply relational. As we continue to do this work, I want to invite folks to keep having enthusiastic conversations filled with optimism for a collective movement and vision towards safety for all of us. We should all be able to thrive here in our Berkshire home."
July 2019 - “We can find places of belonging here,” Barreto said. “That’s what I’m excited about.” From the beginning, finding cultural resources has felt central to her work here to create a network among local arts organizations that share the institute’s concerns.
June 2019 - NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts is partnering with the area's myriad cultural entities to further its mission as an inclusive educational institution.
Dr. Lisa DonovanDirector, MCLA-IAH |
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Erica BarretoCoordinator, MCLA-IAH |
Brianna ChristieStrategic Communications & Engagement Manager
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Odiase WilliamsonProgram Manager
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Eloise BakerGraphic Designer & Web Editor
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Roman RobledoProgram & Engagement Assistant
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