Celebrating 150 Years of SMFA
Educating Artists for a Changing World
For 150 years, the School of the Museum of Fine Arts has been a bold leader in art education—known for its experimental spirit, interdisciplinary approach, and distinctive pedagogy. Since joining Tufts University almost a decade ago, SMFA has continued to its tradition of preparing students to be artists who challenge conventions, engage across disciplines, and shape important cultural and social conversations. Grounded in creativity, inquiry, and human connection, SMFA empowers artists not only to thrive in the arts, but to lead across science, technology, health, design, and the global creative economy.
As we celebrate the school's historic milestone, we also look ahead with the launch of the SMFA 150th Anniversary Visionary Initiative. This campaign marks a pivotal moment to build upon our legacy while re-imaging the future of art education.
This anniversary is both a celebration and a call to action—an opportunity to invest in the artists, ideas, and experiences that will define the next generation of creative leadership. We hope you will join us!
150th Committee Members
The Committee provides strategic leadership and support for SMFA's Visionary Initiative and milestone celebration events. Members collaborate with school leadership, peers, and institutional partners to guide the planning and execution of anniversary events, fundraising efforts, and engagement opportunities that honor SMFA's legacy and shape its future.
How did SMFA Begin?
In 1870, the Massachusetts State Legislature passed the Drawing Act and soon after, The School of Drawing and Painting began.
The SMFA Building
The first SMFA classrooms were located in the basement of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston in a Gothic Revival building in Copley Square. From there, the school moved to Fenway and has undergone multiple renovations to become the building we know today.
The School’s First Artistic Collaboration: Edmund Tarbell and Frank Benson
The close friendship between Frank Weston Benson and Edmund C. Tarbell helped to shape the way that painting and drawing were instructed in the early days of SMFA.