BabsonARTS

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).

The 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.

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 Grant Application

Applications are due by 5 p.m. on the dates listed.

• Fall 2025 Semester Projects: 
  September 15
• Spring 2026 Semester Projects: 
  November 17
• Fall 2027 or 2027 Academic Year Long Projects: April 15, 2026
  • Fall Semester or Academic Year-long projects that require more lead or project time can be submitted by April 15 for the following fall/academic year.

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.

Martin Luther King Jr.: Legacy Day: Dr. Derron O. Wallace

Wednesday, February 11, 5:00 P.M.
Carling-Sorenson Theater
FREE.  Registration required HERE.

The Babson community remembers, reflects upon, and celebrates the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. This annual event continues conversations around Dr. King’s vision of justice, equality, and peace in our own community and in the world at large. 

This year’s theme is The Power, Purpose and Promise of Education with keynote speaker Dr. Derron O. Wallace, Associate Professor of Education Policy and Africana Studies at Brown University. Dr. Wallace is an award-winning sociologist, educational policy analyst and writer, including author of the widely celebrated book, The Culture Trap: Ethnic Expectations and Unequal Schooling for Black Youth (Oxford University Press). He currently serves as Vice Chair of the Board of Directors of the National Education Association Foundation. Dr. Wallace’s research, teaching, and public advocacy focus on the dynamics of, and the solutions to, racial, ethnic and educational inequality, nationally and internationally.

Activating Empathy: Human Connection for Entrepreneurial Leaders

A Creative Commerce Conversation with Catherine Cote, Founder of Project Empathy
Tuesday, March 24, 5:00 P.M.
Sorenson Upper Lobby
FREE and open to the public. Registration encouraged HERE. Walk-ins welcome.  

A key component of emotional intelligence, empathy is a critical factor in leadership success, strong team and company culture, and workplace wellbeing. In this workshop, participants will explore the science behind empathy, why it’s critical for today’s entrepreneurial leaders, and the tools you can use to leverage its power. Through interactive empathy exercises and conversation, participants will leave with actionable takeaways, a new connection, and the confidence to activate empathy in their entrepreneurial journeys. 

Catherine Cote, founder of Project Empathy, is a Boston-based social impact entrepreneur. She provides resources and workshops to activate empathy in organizations and communities around the world. Catherine holds a BA in Psychology from College of the Holy Cross; a Certificate from the Ciocca Center for Business, Ethics, and Society; and a Certificate in Leadership Principles from Harvard Business School Online. More at officialprojectempathy.com

Thompson Poet Reading Series: Marcelo Hernandez Castillo

Wednesday, March 25, 5:00 P.M.
Carling-Sorenson Theater
FREE and open to the public. Registration encouraged HERE. Walk-ins welcome. 

Marcelo Hernandez Castillo is the author of Children of the Land: a Memoir; Cenzontle; Dulce; and, most recently, he is the co-editor of the anthology Here to Stay: Poetry and Prose from the Undocumented  Diaspora. His work has been longlisted for the California Book Award, the Foreword Indies Prize, and the Lambda Literary Award, among other recognitions. He has served as distinguished fellow for the Marshall Project’s Art For Justice initiative from the University of Arizona which advocates for prison reform and is an inaugural recipient of the Writing Freedom Fellowship from Haymarket Books and the Mellon Foundation. He currently teaches in the MFA program at St. Mary’s College of California and at Ashland University’s Low-Res MFA program. 

Artist’s Website:  marcelohernandezcastillo.com

Series made possible in part by the Charles D. and Marjorie J. Thompson Visiting Poet Fund.

Waterline Reading Series Showcase

Tuesday, April 7, 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.

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.

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: A Real Pain

Written and Directed by Jesse Eisenberg
Tuesday, March 3, 7:00 P.M. (EST)
Carling-Sorenson Theater
FREE and open to the public. Registration encouraged HERE. Walk-ins welcome. 

An international co-production between Poland and the United States, this 2024 comedy-drama stars writer and director Jesse Eisenberg along with Kieran Culkin as mismatched cousins who reunite for a Jewish heritage tour through Poland in honor of their late grandmother. Their old tensions resurface against the backdrop of their family history. 

Post-film discussion will be held immediately following the screening. 

Co-presented by the Global Film Series and the Arts and Humanities Division. 

Film Screening: Bad River

Written and Directed by Mary Mazzio
Tuesday, March 10, 7:00 P.M.
Carling-Sorenson Theater
FREE and open to the public. Registration encouraged HERE. Walk-ins welcome.

View BAD RIVER Trailer   |   View ​BAD RIVER Study Guide

Narrated by Quannah ChasingHorse and Academy-Award nominee, Edward Norton; and produced by Grant Hill and Allison Abner, BAD RIVER is a new documentary chronicling the Wisconsin-based Bad River Band’s fight for sovereignty. The story unfolds through shocking revelations, devastating losses, and a powerful legacy of defiance and resilience, including a David vs. Goliath battle to save Lake Superior, the largest freshwater resource in America. As Bad River Tribal Elder Eldred Corbine declares: "We gotta protect it… die for it, if we have to." More at badriverfilm.com

Award-winning filmmaker Mary Mazzio’s body of work has had deep and sustained impact, moving the needle on important social issues. In addition to being an Olympic athlete, a recovering lawyer, a former college pie-eating champion, and the mother of two children, Mary Mazzio is also Filmmaker-in-Residence at Babson College. More at 50eggs.com

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.

Thompson Poet Reading Series: Marcelo Hernandez Castillo

Wednesday, March 25, 5:00 P.M.
Carling-Sorenson Theater
FREE and open to the public. Registration encouraged HERE. Walk-ins welcome. 

Marcelo Hernandez Castillo is the author of Children of the Land: a Memoir; Cenzontle; Dulce; and, most recently, he is the co-editor of the anthology Here to Stay: Poetry and Prose from the Undocumented  Diaspora. His work has been longlisted for the California Book Award, the Foreword Indies Prize, and the Lambda Literary Award, among other recognitions. He has served as distinguished fellow for the Marshall Project’s Art For Justice initiative from the University of Arizona which advocates for prison reform and is an inaugural recipient of the Writing Freedom Fellowship from Haymarket Books and the Mellon Foundation. He currently teaches in the MFA program at St. Mary’s College of California and at Ashland University’s Low-Res MFA program. 

Artist’s Website:  marcelohernandezcastillo.com 

Series made possible in part by the Charles D. and Marjorie J. Thompson Visiting Poet Fund.

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!

Live at the Black Box

Thursday, March 26, 7:00 P.M.
Sorenson Black Box
FREE and open to the public. Registration encouraged HERE. Walk-ins welcome. 

Live at the Black Box is a night of performances by Babson students where you never know what you’ll get! This club style, almost-open-mic gives student performers an opportunity to stand in the spotlight. Past performances include the Babson Music Collective, Students Against Gravity improv, soloists, and more! Stop in to see your friends perform while you grab a snack, sit back, and watch some great live music. 

Students interested in applying to perform should register HERE or contact the BabsonARTS office at babsonarts@babson.edu for application materials and guidelines. We encourage all performers to apply! 

Babson Music Collective Concert

Tuesday, April 28, 7:00 P.M.
Carling-Sorenson Theater
FREE and open to the public. Registration encouraged HERE. Walk-ins welcome. 

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 strives to foster a community of Babson’s many student musicians and listeners.

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.

Live at the Black Box

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.​​​​​

TAKE COVER

Artwork by Robert Tomlinson 

ARTIST OPEN HOUSE AND RECEPTION Thursday, January 22, 5:00 P.M.
FREE and open to the public. Registration encouraged HERE. Walk-ins welcome.
EXHIBIT ON VIEW January 22– March 6, M-F 9:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M. (EST)
Hollister Gallery 

Books are more than the stories they tell. They reveal something about the people who created them. They document the times and places they come from, becoming a valuable cultural resource. But they are also alive to the reader with various invitations: to be held, to imagine a new world, to establish an ongoing and often intimate dialogue with characters. Adults and children make scribbles and notations inside the books, often innocently illustrating daydreams or immediate frustrations. Take Cover is inspired by the private notations and drawings made by previous, now anonymous book owners. 

Robert Tomlinson has served as executive director and curator for The San Jose Institute for Contemporary Art, Gallery One Visual Arts Center and the Oregon Arts Alliance. He has curated and installed over 100 exhibitions and created a gallery for the developmentally disabled. A working artist, Tomlinson has conducted his own studio practice for over 40 years. In 2011 he co-founded 13 Hats, a group of artists and writers that collaborated for two years on a wide range of creative projects and exhibitions. His work has been featured in 35 solo shows and over 60 group exhibitions. Tomlinson has been awarded several artist’s residencies, most recently in 2023 at Monson Arts in Monson, Maine.

TRACES: THE SHAPE OF MEMORY

Artwork by Carla Goldberg 

ARTIST OPEN HOUSE AND RECEPTION Thursday, March 26, 5:00 P.M.
FREE and open to the public. Registration encouraged HERE. Walk-ins welcome.
EXHIBIT ON VIEW March 26 – May 17, M-F 9:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M. (EST)
Hollister Gallery

This exhibit explores how time and experience leave their imprint on both the material and emotional landscapes we inhabit. Every surface holds a trace—an echo of presence and passage. In Eulogies, salvaged plexiglass preserves the scars of a shared global moment, transformed through light and reflection. Giant’s Causeway evokes the geological memory of the earth itself, its ancient formations mirroring endurance and change. Ripple Effect captures fleeting personal joy—the playful movement of water and childhood—suspended in resin and luminosity. Together, these works form a meditation on the persistence of memory: how it solidifies, erodes, and reshapes itself over time. Goldberg’s layered, light-responsive materials invite viewers to experience remembrance as both intimate and universal, fluid yet enduring—traces of what once was, now reimagined in form and light. 

Born in Los Angeles and raised in Palm Springs, California, Carla Goldberg developed an early fascination with light, movement, and the fluidity of water. For over two decades, she has explored the interplay of resin, plexiglass, and mixed media to capture water’s motion and ethereal qualities. Combining industrial and nontraditional materials, her process embraces experimentation and the beauty of “happy accidents,” resulting in sculptural drawings, paintings, and installations that shift with light and perspective. 

Goldberg earned a BA with honors in Art and Art History from the University of Redlands and an MFA from MICA’s Mount Royal School of Art. A former gallery director and curator, she has exhibited internationally, including at The Dorsky Museum, the American Embassy in Turkey, and galleries in Berlin and Istanbul. Now based in Milford, Connecticut, she continues to create work inspired by the reflective, ever-changing waters of the Long Island Sound. 

Artist website: www.carlagoldberg.com

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.

Ceramic Coil Pots

Part 1: Thursday January 29, 5:00 P.M.-7:00 P.M. 

Part 2: Thursday February 5, 5:00 P.M.-7:00 P.M.

Babson Ceramics Studio, Trim 221
Registration required HERE

Coil building, used since 8,000 BCE across cultures from Greece to Sub-Saharan Africa, allows for more complex and larger ceramic forms than other hand-building techniques. In this two-part workshop, you'll learn to coil and decorate a small hand-built vase or sculpture using various coiling techniques. In the second session, we will learn how to glaze the pieces to finish them. Participants must be available for both sessions to complete their pieces.

Note: Coiled pots are more prone to cracking than other ceramic methods. While the studio follows strict procedures to minimize risks, we cannot guarantee pieces won't crack during firing. Clay is messy – please dress accordingly.

Image Transfer Gelli Printing

Thursday March 5, 5:00 P.M.-7:00 P.M. 

2D/3D Studio, Trim 215
Registration required HERE (opens Feb 19)

Create colorful, layered monoprints by applying paint, textures, and stencils, then pressing paper onto the gel-like surface to capture unique designs. You'll also learn to incorporate photo transfers into your work, combining personal images with abstract backgrounds to create one-of-a-kind pieces that blend photography with printmaking. We'll explore different transfer methods and discuss how to build complexity through multiple layers and printing sessions. 

Bring your own magazine or laser-print photographs with high contrast and clear details, or use materials provided. For best results, choose images that work well in monochrome or with limited colors. Gelli printing can be messy – please dress accordingly. 

Sculpting with VR

Thursday April 16, 5:00 P.M.-7:00 P.M. 

Babson Commons 101
Registration required HERE (opens April 2)

Using a VR headset and intuitive sculpting tools, you'll design a three-dimensional artwork in virtual space. You'll discover how VR technology removes traditional barriers to sculpture, allowing you to create forms that would be difficult or impossible with conventional materials. Scale, rotate, and refine your piece from every angle in a fully immersive environment. 

Once complete, your sculpture will be added to our virtual art gallery. Depending on your design, we will work with you to create a 3D-printed version, connecting the virtual and the tangible. 

Presented by BabsonARTS, The Weissman Foundry, and Babson-VR