As related in the press release from Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA), The Campagna Kleefeld Center for Creativity in the Arts will create a space for the exploration of creativity, enhancing all students’ experiences on campus, linking the arts with academic disciplines, from humanities and social, biological, and physical sciences to business and computer science — and serve as an essential part of the MCLA learning experience. James Birge, president of MCLA says, “Carolyn’s real gift to MCLA is the inspiration to be creative, to have a space where we can be challenged to define what art is and how creativity is a form of expression of who we are, and how we value one another.”

As the new primary gallery and arts programming space on campus, The Campagna Kleefeld Center for Creativity in the Arts will support MCLA programs by providing opportunities for students to engage with artists, their work, and the community. It will serve as a dynamic and flexible space for faculty engagement and curricular innovation, fostering meaningful interactions with a rotating array of exhibits and programs. This new venue will also support MCLA’s Benedetti Teaching Artists-in-Residence, student artists-in-residence, and student artists.

A cornerstone of The Campagna Kleefeld Center for Creativity in the Arts will be its integration of Carolyn Kleefeld’s visual art, writing, and poetry, offering ongoing opportunities for students to curate and engage with her work. Carolyn is the author of twenty-five books, many bilingual and trilingual translations, distributed worldwide. Student engagement with Carolyn’s work may take many forms, including independent and collaborative projects that examine a current exhibit, internships that focus on situating Carolyn’s work both in The Campagna Kleefeld Center for Creativity in the Arts and in secure areas across campus, and coursework that engages Carolyn’s visual art, writing, and poetry in a wide range of contexts, especially in terms of demonstrating and celebrating the creative process.

A compelling aspect of MCLA is its location in an art mecca. The Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (MASS MoCA) is also in North Adams, and the Clark Institute and Williams College, with its large art museum, are nearby and all these art institutions collaborate and share programs.

Carolyn’s forward-thinking gift is a game-changer, not only for our students and faculty but also for Berkshire County and its surrounding communities, and will continue to be for generations to come. — MCLA President James F. Birge, Ph.D.

About MCLA
At MCLA, we’re here for all — and focused on each — of our students. Classes are taught by educators who care deeply about teaching, and about seeing their students thrive on every level of their lives. In every way possible, the experience at MCLA is designed to elevate our students as individuals, leaders, and communicators, fully empowered to make their impressions on the world. In addition to our 130-year commitment to public education, we have fortified our dedication to equitable academic excellence. MCLA has appeared on U.S. News & World Report’s list of Top Ten Public Colleges for 10 consecutive years, earning the No. 6 spot on the list of Top Public Liberal Arts Schools in the nation for 2025, after earning the No. 7 spot the prior three years. The College’s focus on affordable education and economic prosperity is reflected in additional 2025 U.S. News rankings: No. 5 for Top Performer on Social Mobility for liberal arts colleges in the state and No. 2 for Top Performer on Social Mobility for public liberal arts colleges in the country.