Commencement

Congratulations Classes of 2020 and 2021!!

On Sunday, May 16, 2021, Maine College of Art & Design honored the graduating classes of 2020 and 2021 during the College’s 110th Commencement at the Cross Insurance Arena. Graduating students were joined by their friends and family—both in-person and remotely—to celebrate their academic achievements. Renowned artist, arts activist, and arts educator Sonya Y.S. Clark delivered the Commencement address and was awarded an honorary degree along with Maine-based humanitarian and philanthropist Daniel N. Crewe.

Congratulations to the BFA Class of 2021 on putting together an incredible BFA Thesis Exhibition.

"This is an extraordinary showing by 75 BFA Seniors, who have worked tirelessly despite the many challenges they've faced over the past year. The Porteous building is glowing with an abundance of work." shared Nikki Rayburn. Assistant Director of Exhibitions, Adjunct Assistant Professor Woodworking & Furniture Design "Families and friends of the graduates joined us in the college this weekend – visiting on a ticketed/timed admission system – to view works and celebrate these artists' accomplishments."

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Many thanks to all of the members of the MECA&D community who have helped support this exhibition, including Facilities and Technology staff, and all of the Faculty who have mentored and worked closely with these students over the past four years to help them accomplish this goal.

Additional thanks and congratulations to the 2021 Curatorial Team - Ana Garcia, Zoe Dieffenbach, Beckett Asselin, & Paisley D'Alessandro - who worked incredibly hard to make this show happen.

View the MAT Candidates

View the MFA Thesis Exhibition

View the BFA Thesis Exhibition

Commencement Speaker

Honorary Degree Recipients

Photos of Commencement

Letter From President Laura Freid

Dear Members of the MECA&D Community,

As we look ahead to the conclusion of the academic year, we are working to finalize plans for a Commencement ceremony that will appropriately honor our graduating students’ academic achievements.

I am pleased to share that on Sunday, May 16, 2021, at 10:00 AM, we will hold MECA&D’s 2021 Commencement at the Cross Insurance Arena on Free Street across from MECA&D (please note the change of date from Saturday, May 15, 2021). The 34,000 square foot arena can accommodate up to 9,500 people under normal circumstances. Given the size of the arena and following appropriate health protocols, we will be able to safely host an in-person event that will allow our one hundred plus graduating students from the Class of 2021 and the Class of 2020 to celebrate together.

To prioritize the health and safety of our graduates, at this time we anticipate limiting attendance to graduating students, the Commencement platform party, and select faculty and staff who will be volunteering their time to support the event. Given recent changes to Maine's COVID-19 protocols per Governor Mills, we are assessing the ability of graduates to invite a guest(s) to attend commencement. Future updates regarding guests will be posted on the MECA&D website and communicated to graduating students. The ceremony will be simultaneously live-streamed so that parents, families, and friends, as well as the rest of the MECA&D community, can celebrate alongside our graduates.

MECA&D’s health and safety protocols will be in place so everyone in attendance will be required to wear masks and maintain social distancing throughout the event and will continue to participate in MECA&D’s COVID-19 testing program through the conclusion of the semester. Our consulting physician, a specialist in infectious disease, has voiced his approval for our plan for an in-person ceremony.

Our MECA&D community of students, faculty, and staff has set a very high standard of cooperation and teamwork. We have been able to gather together all year safely, and I commend each and every one of you for all your efforts to keep our campus a safe environment. The artwork created during this pandemic is compelling, imaginative, and provocative, reminding us all of the power of creativity, teamwork, and collaboration.

I look forward to sharing our year-end celebrations with our students in person and with our community virtually.

Sincerely,

Laura Freid
President