CREATE: Cultivate Relationships by Engaging with Arts at Tufts Experiences
The CREATE (Cultivate Relationships by Engaging with Arts at Tufts Experiences) Orientation is an interactive pre-orientation program that centers activism through the arts. CREATE is open to all new students and much of the CREATE programming happens at our SMFA Campus in the Fenway Neighborhood of Boston!
About
Each year incoming CREATE students will immerse themselves in a critical social justice issue through various art mediums and institutions throughout the Boston area. By the end of the four-day program we hope that students will leave with a sense of belonging, community, and inspiration to incorporate the arts and tackle social justice issues during their time at Tufts. We encourage incoming students of all art levels and experience to join.
Typical Day
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 8:30 – 9:30 a.m. | Breakfast in Medford, Boston, or Brookline |
| 9:30 a.m. - 12 p.m. | Off-Campus Experience – museums, galleries, open markets, and more |
| 12 - 1 p.m. | Lunch with leaders |
| 1 - 5 p.m. | Art making – a different process every day |
| 5 - 6 p.m. | Dinner in the dining hall with leaders |
| 7 – 9:30 p.m. | Evening activities – everything ranging from an escape room to a gallery opening |
Staff
Aili Zissu
Pre-Orientation Coordinator
Aili (she/her, Class of 2028) is a Sociology major hailing from upstate New York. She is a member of Sex Health Reps and the Brain Exercise Initiative at Tufts. In her free time she loves to paint, listen to music, enjoy the scenic views from the Green Line, and spend time with friends. This is her third year being a part of the CREATE community and she loves it very much.
Jojo Miko
Pre-Orientation Coordinator
JoJo (she/her, Class of 2028) is going into her fourth year in the combined degree program majoring in Fine Arts and Engineering Psychology. She loves creating interactive artwork that combines the digital and physical realms through robotics and mixed reality. Outside of her studies she loves playing board games, listening to audiobooks, attending JumboXR club, practicing K-pop dance with KoDA, and her weekly D&D sessions as a rogue dwarf. JoJo is from London, Ontario Canada, and is very excited to be a Co-Coordinator for CREATE again this year!
Contact Us
CREATE
create.preo@tufts.edu | 617-627-2746 | @create_tufts
I loved going to the ICA and exploring the exhibition that was on display at the time. I also liked doing the art activities at the SMFA, like the dip dye projects and decorating our tote bags. CREATE helped me meet all kinds of students and made me fully realize how interdisciplinary students at Tufts are.
Morgan Moss, Class of 2027
I loved CREATE! I met most of my friends from it.