The Milton Art Center (MAC) is a nonprofit 501 c (3) art education community center located in East Milton Square.  Our community art center, in operation since 2012, offers art classes, summer camp, workshops, and birthday parties in addition to providing community programming with art exhibits showcasing local emerging and established artists, music and comedy events.

The Milton Art Center’s mission statement is “to educate, encourage and empower all to recognize the value art brings to our lives.”

The people who gravitate to the MAC, students, teachers, artists, artisans, musicians, performers and appreciators of the arts do recognize that art and music and community are essential to our quality of life. The arts bring us together regardless of ethnicity, religion or age.

History

The Milton Art Center organization started in January 2012.

The lease to the building was awarded in 2011 to  FAVA, Friends and Advocates of the Visual Arts, a parent’s group that formed in reaction to the lack of art programming in the public schools. FAVA was given permission in 2003 to run an after school art enrichment program in the public schools by then Assistant Superintendent, Mary Gormley. FAVA put in an RFP for the empty East Milton Library building and received a phone call in late December, 2010,  from then Town Administrator, Kevin Mearn that FAVA had won the bid.

The Building

The East Milton Branch Library was designed by Eliot T. Putnam on land that was donated to the Town of Milton by Nathaniel T. Kidder. Local contractor C.C. Fulton & Son used Harvard brick to construct the building in 1931, with a graceful pediment entrance and a slightly projecting center section and slate roof.

The building is on the State Register of Historic Places and is featured on page 19 of the book, Milton Architecture, written by Anthony Mitchell Sammarco and Paul Buchanan.

The East Milton branch library building is also referenced on page 42 of the Milton Historical Society’s book, A Brief History of Milton, Massachusetts, edited by Mrs. James B. Ayer in 1956, noting that as the town grew, the necessity of branch libraries in Mattapan, the Kidder, and in East Milton were important for the intellectual development of the residents. “In the years 1929 and 1931 respectively, through the concern and generosity of Nathaniel T. Kidder, who gave land for the buildings  and support for the enterprise.”

Building Signage

The Milton Art Center has made design choices to preserve the historic signage of the former branch library building. A long-serving board member, Scott Love, matched the art center sign lettering as closely as possible to the original iron letters used in the exterior branch library signage. Scott also designed the front lawn sign to match and complement other historic properties in Milton.

The Next Decade

As the Milton Art Center enters our 2nd decade, we look forward to continuing to enhance the property of the art center with a Children’s Color Garden, which will feature plants that historically have been used to color garments and furnishings. This educational garden will be used in conjunction with classes at the art center and will enhance the beauty and aesthetics of the area for residents and visitors visiting and walking by.

The past year we installed two beautiful murals in the backyard of the art center. “Butterfly,” by Sue Hoy, and “Colors of the World,” by Mairead Dambruch. Their vibrant colors and dynamic designs communicate the importance of art to children. They capture the children’s attention and imagination; encouraging them to explore their own creative potential and appreciate the diverse ways in which art can reflect and enhance our world. The art center  also installed a driveway in the back of the property.

The next project on the horizon — installing a work of public art on the front lawn. Public art makes art accessible to everyone, a part of daily life. Public art can inspire children and encourage them to create their own art.

With climate change’s impact on our summer programming, we hope to soon install permanent shade structures in the backyard for outdoor programs and a bench on the shady side of the building for people to sit and admire the incoming new public art.

Community Programming

We welcome everyone to send in ideas and suggestions about community programming and welcome you to work with us. Contact info@miltonartcenter.org.