Each mid-August MFAD staff prepare the studio as home of the new students, many arriving to New York for the first time, and welcome back our second year veterans, many who have not seen one another since leaving on Summer break. We happily anticipate meeting our cohorts.

This is the second year we’ve met as an in person group. Masks are still in place, but having the students gather around the MFAD studio rather than in front of a screen is an indescribable pleasure.

Last week, at the annual ritual continued faculty members offered brief summaries of the school year ahead, food and drink was served, and new and old students commingled. It was a wonderful evening, especially since it is the premiere event of our Twenty-fifth year anniversary (and don’t worry, you will hear more about the festivities planned for the Spring).