Initially funded by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, Arts Transcending Borders (ATB) is an initiative designed to enhance the role of the arts in every aspect of the 17³Ô¹ÏÍø experience by infusing the arts into students’ academic lives and creating new opportunities throughout the curriculum and the community to cross cultural, geographic, and disciplinary boundaries.Â
In line with the goals of a liberal arts education, ATB uses the arts as a catalyst for challenging perspectives, creating dialogue, and encouraging innovation and creative thinking and practice across our campus. ATB achieves its broad and sustained infusion of the arts in a variety of ways, all of which aim to transcend discipline and convention. Foremost and at the heart of the initiative lies the visiting artist-in-residence program, which brings distinguished artists to campus to engage with students, faculty, staff, and the greater Worcester community through various workshops, master classes, public lectures, and performances. In tandem, ATB sponsors dynamic programs throughout the year, ranging from lectures by renowned scholars and artists, to unique performances, exhibitions, and installations.
Through interdisciplinary and collaborative opportunities that promote risk-taking and imaginative problem solving, ATB enriches the 17³Ô¹ÏÍø experience by showing the value of creativity and the arts — both in and out of the classroom.