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BabsonARTS

Creativity and innovation have long been hallmarks of Babson College’s focus on entrepreneurship, and the arts provide a space to explore the intersection of creative vision and entrepreneurial thought.

Here at BabsonARTS, we always have a full slate of engaging performances, exhibitions, films, and conversations.

If you are interested in getting BabsonARTS brochures mailed to your home or if you’d like to join our email list, please send us a message.

BabsonARTS Fall 2026

BabsonARTS Fall 2026 Brochure

Most events are free and open to the public!

Find an Event

The ARTScapades program is an opportunity for current students, staff, and faculty to attend amazing local professional performances. Sponsored by BabsonARTS, members of the Babson community can purchase substantially discounted tickets to theatre, museums, music, dance and more in the Greater Boston area (transportation to events is not provided).

  • Tickets for students are $10 for all events and go on sale two weeks prior to each event.
  • Faculty/Staff tickets range from $15-20 and go on sale one week prior to each event.

Cash only, limit two (2) per person. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit Alex Brand in Trim 216 or email abrand@babson.edu

Enjoy discounted tickets this season to the Boston Ballet's The Nutcracker, plus free admission to Boston's leading museums - for all Babson students, faculty, and staff.

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Fall 2026 ARTScapades

ARTScapades The Nutcracker

Free Museum Access For Babson

Ceramic WorkshopThe Babson Ceramic Studio is located in the Sorenson Visual Arts Center within Trim Hall. Memberships are available on a semester basis during the Academic Year to current Babson College, Olin College of Engineering and Wellesley College students, staff, and faculty. Members pay a flat fee of $100 at registration, which covers moderate use of clay, glazes, and other supplies and equipment. Members have access to the studio via Babson OneCards from 8 a.m.–10 p.m. daily including weekends and breaks. A regular firing schedule is posted and the Ceramics Studio manager and monitors have weekly studio hours to assist members as well as weekly drop-in tutorials on hand building and wheel throwing. Previous experience is not required to join The Babson Ceramics Studio relies on student staffing and members working to keep the studio clean, well maintained, and learning together.

Supplies and staffing provided are based on moderate use of the studio and materials and cannot support large volume production, personal or otherwise. Users who are working at a high-level of output beyond personal use may be asked to provide or purchase additional materials as approved by the Ceramics Studio Manager. Production for retail purposes is prohibited.

Registration, open on a tiered basis, usually opens the week prior to the start of each semester using the Babson College academic calendar. Each member must register individually, and payment is due at registration. Slots are limited and go quickly. For more information or to be added to the notification list to receive an email announcing when registration will open each semester, please email babsonceramics@babson.edu. If you wish to be added to the notification list, please provide your name, school email address, and year of expected graduation.

Black DogMuralTurtle Typing

The BabsonARTS Student Arts Grant program provides funding, mentorship, and support from BabsonARTS resources, staff, and affiliates toward specific projects proposed by individual or multiple students. While not as intense as most artistic grant processes, students are offered assistance beginning with the application process through the execution of the project. The arts grant program was created to encourage any interested Babson College student to pursue a creative project, whether identifying as an artist or not, to explore and enhance their engagement with creativity and the arts. Approved projects have included a wide-range of genres including film, visual arts such as painting, ceramics, felting and photography, podcast and video series, and fashion.

Application Deadlines

Student Arts Grant Guidelines and Resources (pdf)

Student Arts Grant (Music) Guidelines and Resources (pdf)

Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. on the dates listed.

  • Fall 2026 Semester Projects: 
    September 15
  • Spring 2027 Semester Projects: 
    November 15
  • Fall 2027 or 2027-28 Academic Year Long Projects: April 15

Successful proposals typically demonstrate clear goals, specific proposed timelines, a strong narrative regarding what the student(s) hope to learn and explore through the proposed projects, and engagement with the resources available throughout the project. The Selection Committee reviews applications the week following each deadline and generally notifies applicants of approval/denial or if there are additional questions within two weeks of the submission deadlines. We fully anticipate projects will hit challenges, pivot, and sometimes end up in a very different place than originally proposed. That is the beauty (and sometimes frustration) of the artistic process—and we embrace that.

Any currently enrolled Babson College student, undergraduate or graduate, is eligible to apply. The application form and guidelines are available here. Students are encouraged to schedule an appointment to speak with a member of the BabsonARTS staff about their ideas and proposal before submitting the application. For more information or to schedule an appointment, please email babsonarts@babson.edu.

BabsonARTS conversations showcase dynamic speakers ranging from prominent arts leaders to literary luminaries. They discuss their work and share their insights, engaging with the audience in an intimate setting.

Yujia Ma and the Women of Ma

Yujia Ma and the Women of Ma

ARTIST TALK AND OPENING RECEPTION
Wednesday, September 9, 2026 5:00 P.M.
Hollister Gallery
FREE and open to the public. Registration encouraged HERE. Walk-ins welcome.  
EXHIBIT ON VIEW
September 9 - October 15

Women of Ma explores connection across generations of women in artist Ma’s family, bridging distances shaped by culture, loss, and silence. Inspired by memories of her late mother, Lingqiao, Yujia Ma uses self-portraiture, video, and collaboration to embody both remembrance and discovery. The work reaches toward questions left unasked, relationships interrupted by grief, and moments of connection reclaimed through art. Collaborations with her grandmother, aunt, and cousin transform the camera into a tool for dialogue, creativity, and play. This exhibition documents that act of reaching, honoring both the sorrow of absence and the joy of shared experience. 

Sarah Ruhl Conversation

An Evening with Sarah Ruhl

Tuesday, October 6, 2026 7:00 P.M.
Carling-Sorenson Theater
FREE. Registration required HERE.

Join us for an extraordinary evening with Tony Award–nominated playwright, bestselling author, and one of the most influential voices in contemporary theater: Sarah Ruhl. Renowned for her imaginative storytelling, emotional depth, and signature blend of wit and wonder, Ruhl has captivated audiences around the world. 

In this unique conversation curated exclusively for Babson College, Ruhl will explore Melancholy Play, her beloved and whimsical meditation on longing, transformation, and human connection, alongside Lessons from My Teachers, her acclaimed reflection on creativity, mentorship, and the artistic life. A book signing and meet-and-greet will follow the event. 

Imprint of Objects

The Imprint of Objects 
Artwork by MOSH Studio

ARTIST TALK AND RECEPTION
Thursday, November 5, 2026 5:00 P.M.

Hollister Gallery
EXHIBIT ON VIEW | November 5 - December 18

FREE and open to the public. Registration encouraged HERE. Walk-ins welcome.  

Materiality showcases collaborative mixed-media works by MOSH Studio artists Adrienne Shishko and Suzanne Moseley. Using upcycled materials, the artists transform consumer waste into vibrant artworks that explore the tension between economy, convenience and environmental stewardship. Through color, texture, and collaboration, the exhibition invites viewers to consider how creativity can inspire new approaches to shared challenges.  


Waterline Reading Series Showcase

Waterline Reading Series Showcase

Tuesday, November 10, 2026 5:00 P.M.
Hollister Gallery
FREE and open to the public. Registration encouraged HERE. Walk-ins welcome. 

Waterline features a fast-paced hour of literary works from Babson College faculty and staff fiction writers, poets, and essayists. The selection is always intriguing and often includes works in progress not yet in publication. Recently featured authors: Steve Bauer, Xinghua Li, Wes Miller, Mary Pinard, Jenny Rademacher, David Youtz 

Co-presented with the Arts and Humanities Division.


Creative Conversation 1+1=3

Creative Conversation:
1+1=3: The Business of Creative Collaboration
with MOSH Studio

Wednesday, December 2, 2026 5:00 P.M.
Hollister Gallery
FREE and open to the public. Registration encouraged HERE. Walk-ins welcome. 

How does true collaboration expand creative possibilities? Join artists Suzanne Moseley and Adrienne Shishko of MOSH Studio as they break down the power of creative partnership through their "1+1=3" philosophy. 

In this conversation, MOSH Studio will explore how their dynamic collaboration with each other, their materials, and the broader community expands their creativity, deepens their impact, and illuminates unexpected opportunities. Whether you are an artist, entrepreneur, or organizational leader, discover how truly working with others and exploring diverse ideas can supercharge your creative and business potential. 

With multiple rehearsal spaces and the Babson Dance Ensemble—the largest student-run organization on campus—there’s never a shortage of performances through Bab​sonARTS. With shows featuring everything from hip hop to tap, dance is an energizing way to experience innovative thought in action.

dancers with fans in red skirts on a stage

Photo from Babson Dance Ensemble's Fall 2025 production

There are many dynamic artists in the world of film and television, and BabsonARTS strives to showcase a representative array of fresh creative voices. Award-winning documentaries, classics from the silver screen, and the works of daring international filmmakers are all screened and discussed.

Global Film: It Was Just an Accident

Global Film: It Was Just an Accident

Directed by Jafar Panahi
Tuesday, September 29, 2026 7:00 P.M. (EST)
Carling-Sorenson Theater
FREE and open to the public. Registration encouraged HERE. Walk-ins welcome. 

Jafar Panahi’s It Was Just an Accident is a searing, darkly funny moral thriller. When Vahid, a one-time political prisoner, thinks he hears his former torturer, he kidnaps the man. Unsure if his memory is accurate, he tracks down other traumatized survivors of state torture, triggering a tense reckoning on the nature of justice and truth. 

Post-film discussion will be held immediately following the screening. 
Co-presented by the Global Film Series and the Arts and Humanities Division. 

Celebrating the vast and eclectic stories to be told, Literary Arts at BabsonARTS showcase the works of renowned writers, poets, and literary experts reaching new and captive audiences at Babson with their words and stories.
Waterline Reading Series Showcase

Waterline Reading Series Showcase

Tuesday, November 10, 2026 5:00 P.M.
Hollister Gallery
FREE and open to the public. Registration encouraged HERE. Walk-ins welcome. 

Waterline features a fast-paced hour of literary works from Babson College faculty and staff fiction writers, poets, and essayists. The selection is always intriguing and often includes works in progress not yet in publication. Recently featured authors: Steve Bauer, Xinghua Li, Wes Miller, Mary Pinard, Jenny Rademacher, David Youtz 

Whether modern, ethnic, classical, or a fusion of all three, music at Babson takes a variety of forms, all of which can serve as powerful conduits for entrepreneurial thinking. Regardless of the setting, music performances through BabsonARTS are engaging and innovative displays of talent and creative vision. Learn more about Performance Venues and Practice Rooms.

Get Involved with Babson Music Collective!Babson Music Collective1-Spring 2024

The Babson Music Collective is rooted in the jazz traditions of improvisation and creative expression. The group finds inspiration in a range of musical styles, from pop and afro-beat to classic jazz standards. Drawing on each member’s personal playing style and experiences, the Collective creates unique arrangements for all the music it plays.

The Babson Music Collective performs at several concerts and events throughout the year with the goal of fostering a community of Babson’s many student musicians and listeners.

Led by Clayton DeWalt, the group rehearses weekly on Fridays from 12-2pm, and performs several concerts per semester, both on campus and within the surrounding community.

Music Collective Concert

Babson Music Collective Concert 

Tuesday, November 17, 2026 7:00 P.M.
Carling-Sorenson Theater
FREE and open to the public. Registration encouraged HERE. Walk-ins welcome. 

Students interested in joining the Collective should email Band Director Clayton DeWalt at cdewalt@babson.edu

Photo: Babson Music Collective Spring 2026 Concert. Photo by Kyle Soule.

Bringing to life both the ​classics and edgy new productions, theater through BabsonARTS is consistently relevant and thought-provoking. With performances from faculty- and student-led organizations, as well as renowned directors and actors, there’s always a new reason to visit the stage.

Hidden Life of Stage Directions

The Hidden Life of Stage Directions: Language, Law, and Theatre
WORKSHOP WITH BESS ROWEN

Friday, October 2, 2026 12:00 P.M.
Sandra L. Sorenson Rehearsal Studio
FREE and open to the public. Registration encouraged HERE. Walk-ins welcome.

Stage directions do more than tell actors where to stand—they help create entire worlds. In this interactive workshop, theatre scholar Bess Rowen explores the evolution of stage directions and the creative possibilities they offer contemporary artists. Through hands-on activities inspired by the work of Sarah Ruhl, participants will experiment as actors, directors, and writers, discovering how words on a page become performance in motion. 

Bess Rowen is Associate Professor of Theatre at Villanova University and author of The Lines Between the Lines: How Stage Directions Affect Embodiment (University of Michigan Press, 2021). Her research focuses on stage directions, performance, embodiment, and contemporary theatre. A scholar, director, actor, and intimacy professional, she has published widely in leading theatre journals and edited the student critical edition of A Streetcar Named Desire for Methuen Drama. She teaches courses in theatre, gender and sexuality studies, and performance. linesbetweenthelines.com 

Melancholy Play Sarah Ruhl

The Empty Space Theater presents: Melancholy Play by Sarah Ruhl

Directed by Beth Wynstra
October 21, 22, and 23 7:00 P.M.
October 23 and 24 2:00 P.M.
Sandra L. Sorenson Rehearsal Studio
FREE. Registration required HERE.

Melancholy Play is Sarah Ruhl’s whimsical and inventive comedy about a woman whose melancholy makes her irresistibly captivating, until she suddenly becomes cheerful. Blending humor, romance, and magical transformation, the play explores the surprising power of sadness, the unpredictability of desire, and the ways we connect with one another. Equal parts funny and poignant, it is a theatrical meditation on love, longing, and what makes us truly fascinating to others. 

The Empty Space Theater (TEST) is the faculty-led theater company cosponsored by BabsonARTS and the Division of Arts and Humanities. Led by Artistic Director and Professor Beth Wynstra, TEST’s objective is to produce socially relevant, thought-provoking and compelling plays and musicals to strengthen and formalize curricular ties in ways rewarding to both participants and audiences. 

Get immersed in the visual arts and design made available through BabsonARTS. Engage with both the artists and the art on display with exhibits showcased throughout the year. Babson, Olin, and Wellesley students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to take advantage of regularly offered workshops in ceramics, painting, and drawing and members of the Babson community are able to enjoy free or discounted access to exhibits and museums in the Greater Boston area.​​​​​

Yujia Ma and the Women of Ma

Yujia Ma and the Women of Ma

ARTIST TALK AND OPENING RECEPTION
Wednesday, September 9, 2026 5:00 P.M.
Hollister Gallery
FREE and open to the public. Registration encouraged HERE. Walk-ins welcome.  
EXHIBIT ON VIEW
September 9 - October 15

Women of Ma explores connection across generations of women in artist Ma’s family, bridging distances shaped by culture, loss, and silence. Inspired by memories of her late mother, Lingqiao, Yujia Ma uses self-portraiture, video, and collaboration to embody both remembrance and discovery. The work reaches toward questions left unasked, relationships interrupted by grief, and moments of connection reclaimed through art. Collaborations with her grandmother, aunt, and cousin transform the camera into a tool for dialogue, creativity, and play. This exhibition documents that act of reaching, honoring both the sorrow of absence and the joy of shared experience. 
Ceramics Underglazing

Ceramics Underglazing

ARTIST OPEN HOUSE AND RECEPTION
Thursday, September 24, 2026 5:00 P.M. - 7:00 P.M.
FREE. Registration opens September 10. 
Babson Ceramics Studio, Trim 221

Come explore glaze painting on bisqueware pottery. Learn how to layer and blend colors, try out different decorating techniques, and give your pieces real personality. It's a great chance to play with color combinations, pick up some new skills, and make something that feels genuinely yours. All materials and instructions are included. Beginners and seasoned ceramicists are equally welcome.

Painting in Virtual Reality

Painting in Virtual Reality

VISUAL ARTS WORKSHOP
Thursday, October 15, 2026 5:00 P.M. - 7:00 P.M.
FREE. Registration opens October 1, 2026. 
Babson Commons 101

Put on a virtual reality (VR) headset and paint in a way you've never painted before. Creating in a three-dimensional virtual space allows you to work with light, color, brushstrokes, and animations in a way that simply isn't possible on a flat canvas. VR opens a whole new creative dimension, letting you paint around you, step inside your work, and build compositions from any angle in a fully immersive environment. 

Presented by BabsonARTS and Babson-VR. 

Imprint of Objects

The Imprint of Objects 
Artwork by MOSH Studio

ARTIST TALK AND RECEPTION
Thursday, November 5, 2026 5:00 P.M.

Hollister Gallery
EXHIBIT ON VIEW | November 5 - December 18

FREE and open to the public. Registration encouraged HERE. Walk-ins welcome.  

Materiality showcases collaborative mixed-media works by MOSH Studio artists Adrienne Shishko and Suzanne Moseley. Using upcycled materials, the artists transform consumer waste into vibrant artworks that explore the tension between economy, convenience and environmental stewardship. Through color, texture, and collaboration, the exhibition invites viewers to consider how creativity can inspire new approaches to shared challenges.  

3D Sculpture Workshop

Future Artifacts: 3D Sculpture Workshop

VISUAL ARTS WORKSHOP 
With MOSH Studio, BabsonARTS Fall 2026 Artists-in-Residence
Thursday, November 12, 2026 5:00 P.M.

Weissman Foundry Workroom
FREE. Registration opens October 29.

Join artist duo Suzanne Moseley & Adrienne Shishko (MOSH) for a hands-on workshop exploring creativity, sustainability, and collective action through art. Using beeswax, upcycled containers, and reclaimed textiles, participants will create their own small 3D sculptures while reimagining materials often destined for the waste stream. 

MOSH will share insights from their collaborative practice, which examines consumer culture, waste, and environmental impact, and discuss how collaboration and creative problem-solving can help address today’s environmental challenges. Participants will be invited to consider how our waste may define this moment in history for future generations and how a more thoughtful engagement with what we consume can contribute to a more sustainable future. 

Materials will be provided, but participants are welcome to bring items from their own waste stream, such as plastic bottles, aluminum cans, detergent or milk containers, and discarded fabrics. Lightweight textiles with interesting textures or embroidery work especially well, as do embroidery thread, yarn, string, and other materials that can add visual interest to your creation. 

Come explore your creativity! Workshops are in-person and open to current Babson, Olin, and Wellesley students, faculty, and staff. Materials and instruction are provided; no prior experience needed.

Registration is required and will open two weeks prior to each workshop.

Workshops fill quickly. If sold out, email babsonarts@babson.edu to inquire about a waitlist.

Ceramics Underglazing

Visual Arts Workshop: Ceramic Underglazing
Thursday, September 24, 2026 5:00 P.M.-7:00 P.M. 

Babson Ceramics Studio, Trim 221
FREE. Registration opens September 10, 2026.

Come explore glaze painting on bisqueware pottery. Learn how to layer and blend colors, try out different decorating techniques, and give your pieces real personality. It's a great chance to play with color combinations, pick up some new skills, and make something that feels genuinely yours. All materials and instructions are included. Beginners and seasoned ceramicists are equally welcome.   

Hidden Life of Stage Directions

The Hidden Life of Stage Directions: Language, Law, and Theatre
WORKSHOP WITH BESS ROWEN

Friday, October 2, 2026 12:00 P.M.
Sandra L. Sorenson Rehearsal Studio
FREE and open to the public. Registration encouraged HERE. Walk-ins welcome.

Stage directions do more than tell actors where to stand—they help create entire worlds. In this interactive workshop, theatre scholar Bess Rowen explores the evolution of stage directions and the creative possibilities they offer contemporary artists. Through hands-on activities inspired by the work of Sarah Ruhl, participants will experiment as actors, directors, and writers, discovering how words on a page become performance in motion. 

Bess Rowen is Associate Professor of Theatre at Villanova University and author of The Lines Between the Lines: How Stage Directions Affect Embodiment (University of Michigan Press, 2021). Her research focuses on stage directions, performance, embodiment, and contemporary theatre. A scholar, director, actor, and intimacy professional, she has published widely in leading theatre journals and edited the student critical edition of A Streetcar Named Desire for Methuen Drama. She teaches courses in theatre, gender and sexuality studies, and performance. 

Painting in Virtual Reality

Painting in Virtual Reality

VISUAL ARTS WORKSHOP
Thursday, October 15, 2026 5:00 P.M. - 7:00 P.M.
FREE. Registration opens October 1, 2026. 
Babson Commons 101

Put on a virtual reality (VR) headset and paint in a way you've never painted before. Creating in a three-dimensional virtual space allows you to work with light, color, brushstrokes, and animations in a way that simply isn't possible on a flat canvas. VR opens a whole new creative dimension, letting you paint around you, step inside your work, and build compositions from any angle in a fully immersive environment. 

Presented by BabsonARTS and Babson-VR. 

3D Sculpture Workshop

Future Artifacts: 3D Sculpture Workshop

VISUAL ARTS WORKSHOP 
With MOSH Studio, BabsonARTS Fall 2026 Artists-in-Residence
Thursday, November 12, 2026 5:00 P.M.

Weissman Foundry Workroom
FREE. Registration opens October 29.

Join artist duo Suzanne Moseley & Adrienne Shishko (MOSH) for a hands-on workshop exploring creativity, sustainability, and collective action through art. Using beeswax, upcycled containers, and reclaimed textiles, participants will create their own small 3D sculptures while reimagining materials often destined for the waste stream. 

MOSH will share insights from their collaborative practice, which examines consumer culture, waste, and environmental impact, and discuss how collaboration and creative problem-solving can help address today’s environmental challenges. Participants will be invited to consider how our waste may define this moment in history for future generations and how a more thoughtful engagement with what we consume can contribute to a more sustainable future. 

Materials will be provided, but participants are welcome to bring items from their own waste stream, such as plastic bottles, aluminum cans, detergent or milk containers, and discarded fabrics. Lightweight textiles with interesting textures or embroidery work especially well, as do embroidery thread, yarn, string, and other materials that can add visual interest to your creation. 

In the News

All in One Day: What Happens on Campus

All in One Day: What Happens on Campus

8:05 p.m.: Sorenson Center for the Arts

Inside the Sorenson Rehearsal Studio and Black Box, a stark, unadorned space tucked away in a corner of the building, actors do the hard work of bringing words on the page to life. They have been rehearsing since 6 p.m., running through scenes over and over. Opening night of their play, Kingdom City, is well over a month away, but much polishing and perfecting remain to be done.

Read the Article
Sorenson Arts Scholars Spotlight 2026

Sorenson Arts Scholars Spotlight 2026

The Sorenson Arts Scholars Spotlight is an annual event where the scholars share their artistic process and finished project. This catalog illustrates a small part of the scholars’ journey and celebrates their commitment to their artistic development.

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