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Aspiring artists, designers, and storytellers can find their creative haven at Montserrat College of Art, a top-ranked institution in the region, according to US News & World Report. Founded by working artists, this is a college that knows what it takes to spark personal growth and maximise the professional success of its students.
Located in vibrant downtown Beverly, only three blocks from the Atlantic Ocean, this close-knit community is home to 400 students, the perfect size for bold artistic development from day one. A 8:1 student-teacher ratio allows for personalised attention and mentorship from a faculty of practising artists, designers, and scholars. Collaboration thrives here, with students prioritising camaraderie over competition within the bustling studio spaces and unique apartment-style housing.
Discover your creative potential at Montserrat College of Art
What truly sets Montserrat apart is its dedication to preparing students for the art industry. Every junior student completes an internship, with over half leading to job offers after graduation. This success is facilitated by the college's Career Design Studio. Throughout their four years here — and even beyond — students and graduates receive support in exploring careers, setting goals, gaining industry insights, and receiving practical guidance from professionals.
As this is a college for every artist, students can choose from 12 BFA programmes and five minors. These encompass a wide range of artistic disciplines, including two exciting new additions: Games, Toys, and Play, and Writing and Visual Narratives.
Programmes that infuse art-making with research and critical thinking
Games, Toys, and Play
This concentration gets serious about the world of fun, equipping students with the knowledge of gameplay, play theory, and the skills to craft digital and physical experiences. Imagine designing video games, AR/VR adventures, or classic board games — this is a programme that lets you work with various materials, tools and both physical and digital fabrication techniques to create prototypes of your ideas.
The programme also covers creating beloved objects of play — plushies, figurines, and puppets. You can design and build the entire experience, from characters to strategic gameplay, for entertainment, educational purposes, or establishing social connections.
Writing and Visual Narratives
Montserrat's Writing and Visual Narratives programme concentration merges writing and art, guiding you in worldbuilding, character creation, and translating your vision into captivating visuals. The programme starts with "Elements of the Story," a hands-on exploration of the elements of storytelling, including character, setting, point of view, and plot. This is followed by a “Narrative Workshop.” This is where you understand how each others’ narrative expressions relate to one another while developing your own thematic and aesthetic vision.
Animation
This concentration bridges the gap between fine art and commercial animation. The programme emphasises skills, like storytelling, draftsmanship, and acting, that are applicable to individual and collaborative filmmaking. Here, you'll develop your unique artistic voice while mastering the technical aspects of animation, preparing you for diverse careers in animation, motion graphics, video games, and more.
Illustration
This programme, renowned for its alumni of successful illustrators, authors, and designers, equips students with the dual mastery of artistic skills and impactful communication. By honing your drawing, painting, and media techniques, you’ll not only develop technical proficiency but also cultivate your creative spark. Montserrat's unique approach closes the divide between fine and communication arts, nurturing well-rounded artists who can inform, entertain, and persuade audiences through powerful visuals.
Graphic Design
Montserrat College of Art cultivates a unique environment where graphic design flourishes alongside the fine arts. The programme equips students with the skills to translate ideas into compelling visuals. Through courses that explore typography, imagery, and even sound, graduates learn to craft effective messages across diverse platforms. A “Senior Design Seminar” is a great chance to showcase your progress through self-defined, typically communication-oriented, projects over the course of one and, in rare cases, two semesters.
The people I’ve met through Montserrat have become some of the most important people in my life, and I can’t imagine where I’d be without them. My professors are always very understanding and accommodating of any issues that arise and they are an absolute pleasure to work with. Meanwhile, the campus facilities and equipment allow students to experiment with different mediums. They also provide us access to materials we may not have otherwise. The academic access studio, writing studio, Paul M. Scott library, and the on-campus counsellor are all amazing resources to help students succeed academically. Thanks to Montserrat's connections and opportunities, I have also gained a wealth of experience, knowledge, skills, and source material for my future career as a narrative artist.
hear from the students
Writing and Visual Narratives student
The biggest thing to me is how much the staff and faculty care about the students. I never feel discouraged for asking questions or for help from someone; everyone is incredibly supportive and encouraging. Being at Montserrat has really helped me further learn how to market myself and how to talk about my work in a professional setting. It has also helped me learn how to take criticisms better and apply said critiques to my future work effectively.
Games, Toys, and Play student
The Montserrat community is very close to one another. The campus itself is not that large, so you basically know every face. It's warm and welcoming. The college has plenty of resources to make sure you are never lost. Whether it be the Career Design Studio, the writing studio or the financial aid office, all are very welcoming and help you get what you need. My professors and mentors have been some of my biggest motivators. They are always showing me what I can do with my skills as an artist that I sometimes don't see.
Animation and Interactive Media student
Real-world opportunities for aspiring artists
Montserrat provides many multi-faceted real-world learning experiences. Illustration students, for example, can join a targeted mentorship programme — a proactive move by the college to prepare and support students with the inconsistent nature of freelance illustration gigs.
"It gets them working one on one with a working illustrator and doesn’t rely on the generality of a blanket internship when there are very few in the illustration markets to begin with," says Mark Hoffmann, Associate Professor.
Recognising the importance of networking, the college also equips students with self-promotion skills and hosts community events like ICON, a marketplace connecting students in illustration and graphic design with the local creative scene.
An enriching arts education awaits at Montserrat College of Art
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