Resources

In Broad Strokes

Smith Office for the Arts

Founded in Fall 2022, the Smith Office for the Arts (SOFA) is a new office at Smith focused on unifying arts planning and programming on campus through collaboration and co-creation of programs and initiatives designed to support the creative work of students, staff and faculty.

Careers in Arts, Media, & Communications

Learn more about the new Career Community focused on arts, media, and communications as part of the Lazarus Center for Career Development. Meet peers working toward creative careers, get curated resources and insights from the career specialist Debra Immergut, and chat with experts from the arts and media worlds. We’ll help you feel supported and informed as you travel toward the internship, job, or artistic practice of your dreams.

A student and supervisor looking at a photo on a table.

For Makers

Use the handy Makers Map from the Design Thinking Initiative to find making spaces across campus open to the Smith community—prototypes, videos, computer games, protest signs, clothing and much more! If you have an idea, we can find a way to make it tangible.

Design Thinking Initiative Prototyping Studio

The Prototyping Studio is where your ideas come to life! Our studio is open to anyone on campus—students, faculty, and staff. We invite you to explore making and make projects of any kind. If you have an idea, come on in and we can help you get started by teaching you a machine or assisting with problem solving. In the studio, we have laser cutters, a vinyl cutter, sewing machines, and 3-D printers. We also collect a whole variety of scrap foam, plastic, cardboard, and many more random knickknacks that encourage sustainable and reuse-friendly making.

Imaging Center

The Imaging Center supports the study and production of the visual arts at Smith. We work with faculty and students to make art, to study art and to document art. We teach workshops and provide individual support to help students realize ambitious projects.

Design Fabrication Lab

The Center for Design and Fabrication exists to serve students, faculty and researchers as an instructive facility where ideas take solid form. We are primarily a teaching shop. Our shop has machining, welding and fabrication, woodworking, and rapid prototyping capabilities.

The Art Libraries

Smith is home to not one but two art libraries, filled with abundant resources and librarians who are eager to share their knowledge with you.

Hillyer Art Library

The Hillyer Art Library’s collection covers the history, theory, criticism, and practice of the visual arts. The library has a strong focus on art and architecture and strives to provide an expansive and comprehensive collection to support Smith’s studio art, art history, and architecture community. We welcome you to discover our collection of beautiful art books, journals, oversize folios, zines and artist’s books.

Josten Performing Arts Library

The Werner Josten Performing Arts Library serves the life, culture, and mission of Smith College by curating collections and services in music, theatre, dance and allied interdisciplinary areas that meet the needs of students and faculty for discovery, in-depth research, performance and enjoyment. They also host Josten Live performance series and Knit n’ Listen study breaks.

Interior of Josten Library with four students working at a table

Arts Afield at MacLeish

The Center for the Environment (CEEDS) established the Arts Afield program in order to formalize and encourage work in the arts and humanities at the MacLeish Field Station. The project strives to archive the creativity fostered by the beauty of the landscape.

Learn More About the Program

Art Student Groups

There are over 60 arts and cultural student groups on campus through the Office of Student Engagement. From a cappella groups to literary magazines, from dance groups to theater clubs—there are so many ways you can find your creativity outside of the classroom.

Find Your Niche

Members of the Smiffenpoofs, the oldest traditionally female collegiate a cappella group in the country, pose together.

Did you know Smith is home to the Smiffenpoofs, the oldest traditionally all-female collegiate a cappella group in the country? Pictured here is the group in 2023.

Teaching Artists Program

The Teaching Artists Program (TAP) at Smith College is a new initiative where students teach visual arts in community-based and school contexts. Through TAP, students have the opportunity to share their art knowledge while acquiring new skills in teaching and building community through art making. Teaching placements take place during Fall, January interterm and Spring each year, and students receive a stipend for their work. Our 2024–25 community partners are Northampton Center for the Arts, Project Coach, Campus School of Smith College, and Springfield Legacy Academy. For more information, please email Laura Boban at lboban@smith.edu.

Open Hours in Creative Spaces

Design Thinking Initiative (DTI)
9 a.m.–5 p.m. on weekdays, and during staffed hours

Office of Student Engagement Resource Room
7 a.m.–midnight on weekdays
9 a.m.–midnight on weekends

Center for Design & Fabrication
8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. on weekdays, with an hour closed for lunch.
Occasionally open later in the evening if required. Appointments are strongly suggested.

Gaming Lab
T 7–9 p.m.; Th 3:30–5 p.m. and 6–8 p.m.; F & Sa 6–10 p.m.

Mendenhall Scene Shop
T 6–8:30 p.m.
Note: People who are working on an independent project in the shop need to have one person working with them who has been previously trained through work study or T200, and people who want to work with Amy Putnam on the semester’s project (this semester the CNC machine) do not need previous training.

Mendenhall Costume Shop
F 1–4 p.m.

Show Your Stuff

There are several ways you can display your artwork at Smith, both on campus and beyond.

Amplify Competition

The Amplify Competition is an opportunity for Smith College students to share their knowledge, stories, and perspectives in a public forum and raise their voices to bring about positive change. New to Amplify in 2024–25, the Wild Card category will focus on a different form of public work each year, drawing from practices in the arts and multimedia. This year, the Wild Card is Zines!

Explore the Amplify Competition

Nolen Art Lounge

The Nolen Art Lounge is a gallery space located in Smith College Campus Center. Nolen strives for expansive art programming for our community by giving a platform for student work and exhibitions designed by students and student groups. Contact the Office of Student Engagement for more information.

Learn more about the Nolen Art Lounge

Art displayed in Nolen Art Lounge, Campus Center, Smith College

Student Arts Sale

Sign up for a table and share your creativity with others at the Smith Office for the Arts Student Art Sale. Held twice a year—in winter and spring—the sale welcomes Smith student artists and creators to sell the wares they’ve made on campus, including prints, ceramics, fashion, jewelry, and more.

Exclusive Partnerships

Jacob’s Pillow

Through our college partnership with Jacob’s Pillow, students, staff, and faculty can view full-length performances from festivals and access interviews and archival footage from this important resource for the dance community and beyond. Explore Jacob’s Pillow on Demand, and reach out to the dance department for more information about other exclusive perks for college partners.

Parlor Room Collective

All students get free individual memberships to the Parlor Room Collective in Northampton, which is made up of the Parlor Room, the Iron Horse, and the Musicians Workshop. Student Membership Includes: $2 (or more) discount on all Parlor Room shows, access to pre-sale tickets, free members-only events, monthly newsletter, and discounted music school rates.