Beginning this 2025-2026 school year, Grace Balkowski ‘26 along with Elizabeth Hamilton have started the Arts Association at the Mount. The Arts Association is a nomination-based organization founded for the purpose of bringing together every part of the art community. They work on promoting students’ creativity and showcasing their talents for school-wide recognition. It encompasses all artistic skills, ranging from visual to fine arts and even more art-focused groups at the Mount.
Inspired by her love and appreciation of the arts, Senior Grace Balkowski took it upon herself to begin this innovative new community at the mount.
“The Arts Association was born out of a passion for what the Mount Fine Arts department provides and also just immense gratitude for everything that it has given me and all the talent that we have.” Grace Balkowski ‘25 said.
Encompassing all students’ talents is something that the association is rooted in. Through events such as decorating the hallway with headshots for the play, promoting fine arts week, and many other colorful expressions of our artistic students’ talent, this new association is off to a promising start.
“Our agenda for this year is promotion,appreciation,outreach,collaboration, and awareness.” Balkowski said.
As a new association, they are inspired to incorporate the talents of both visual and performing arts into works that get school wide recognition. A primary goal of the association is getting that same acknowledgement that is mostly seen in the athletics community for the students with artistic talent as well.
Not only does the association promote talent at the Mount, but it is also almost completely student-run. The faculty involved are there to provide structure while the girls take creative control. This leadership hopes to inspire all students who are also interested in the arts.
“I hope that students feel like the Mount is a place where they can express themselves and they both can appreciate the immense talent and participate in the arts at any level they are at,” Art department chair, Mrs. Hamilton, said.
The association being student-run comes with a number of benefits. One of which being the fluidity of getting other students’ ideas across. This fosters deeper connections between students and helps them feel seen. If they can feel comfortable sharing ideas with a student leader, then that opens a world of possibilities to grow the Association and, in turn, artists at the Mount.
“I think the beautiful part of it being student run and student centered is that it can be responsive to the student body…we can have some traditions and grow others based on student decisions.” Mrs. Hamilton said.
A common question asked is, “what is the difference between the Arts Association and the National Art Honor Society?” Though the two may sound similar, there is a clear distinction. The Art Honor Society focuses on valuing student’s visual artistic talents while the Arts Association is different:
“The Art Association, in my mind, though it’s new and evolving, seems to be more geared to promoting arts as a whole.” Mrs. Hamilton said.
All together, the Art Association is a new and growing community at the Mount that is run by students for the benefit of students. Though the association itself is nomination based, no matter where you are in the artistic world they will work to promote your talent. Balkowski took it upon herself to start this organization along with the help from Mrs.Hamilton to help it take off. They work for recognition, appreciation, and overall love for the arts at the Mount.
