Murals & Artwork

Updated October 26, 2023


Artwork (paintings, drawings, or sculptures) is an integral part of student culture in many MIT living groups. MIT is committed to a respectful and welcoming living, learning, and working environment for all community members. More information about MIT’s approach to residential artwork is available in the Key Matters section of the Division of Student Life website.

Residential Art Policy

Policy Summary

  • Artwork in shared spaces may not be used to engage in harassment, discrimination, retaliation, invasion of personal privacy, defamation, threats or violence, targeting of groups or individuals, or infringing the intellectual property rights of others.
  • Artwork must comply with individual living group policies, MIT Policies and Procedures, the MIT Mind and Hand Book, and the law.
  • More specifically, artwork in any shared spaces must not contain material that creates an environment that a reasonable person would consider intimidating, hostile, or abusive and that adversely affects an individual’s educational, work, or living environment.
  • Unacceptable material includes images or language that is derogatory or discriminatory on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, religion, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, or national or ethnic origin.
  • Each living group must have clear procedures to help the community decide whether proposed artwork is acceptable under these standards, and whether existing artwork remains acceptable.
  • A mechanism to allow concerns to be raised confidentially should be in place.
  • Existing artwork may be temporarily removed or covered during deliberations as to their acceptability.
  • When a living group cannot reach an agreement on acceptability of artwork, a panel of faculty, students, and Division of Student Life (DSL) staff will make the relevant decision (see Section II, Subsection II: 4 below). The Institute Discrimination and Harassment Response Office (IDHR) will be consulted as necessary.
  • Graffiti is not protected under the Residential Art Policy.
  • Artwork or mounting systems (i.e., picture rail, panel hangers, etc.) must be installed by professional staff arranged by HRS.

MIT Residential Art Policies and Protocols

Context

Student artwork may be installed in collaboration with Housing & Residential Services (HRS) in designated common areas using stretched canvas, fire-proof mediums, or blackboards by following these policies and procedures and guided by these principles. Each house may adopt protocols for the management of artwork provided they align with the principles and policies found here. Although permanent murals were previously permitted in common spaces in some residence halls, as MIT has made significant investments in large-scale projects to renew older residential buildings, the expectations and approaches to artmaking are changing. Currently murals (defined as artwork painted directly on a building surface) are only permitted in Random Hall, which has historically been a “mural building” and has not yet undergone a recent renovation. Development and content of murals in Random Hall remain subject to the policies below.

These principles and policies can also support artwork in buildings that have not had a history of murals.

Principles for Artmaking

  • Creative expression is an important facet of campus life at MIT.
  • Students’ need for creative expression should be balanced with MIT’s needs to manage expenses in all campus buildings to provide a high quality education at the most affordable cost.
  • Designating art spaces should be a community effort and involve HRS, the house team, and student leaders.
  • To help balance creative expression and managing costs, a portion of a house’s community space (e.g. external to private rooms or suites) can be designated as art-making space and dedicated to creative expression on stretched canvas, fire-proof mediums, or blackboards fixed, but not permanently attached, to the community space.
  • Project proposals should be reviewed per the updated MIT Residential Art Policy, and approved proposals and associated maintenance costs will be funded through the individual house’s budget. [Note: During renewal projects, students work with the project team to determine the means by which artwork can be installed and curated in the renovated building.]
  • Maintenance costs associated with unapproved art will be charged to individuals, groups, or the residence hall depending on the specific circumstances of the situation. See the damage policy for more information.

Before any alterations are made to a living space, the resident must meet with the House Operations Manager and Area Director to discuss changes and alterations. Each House Government may develop its own guidelines for materials that may be displayed within the residence. In general, residents are not permitted to:

  • Alter or add to any part of the building structure or mechanical and electrical systems
  • Place, affix, hang, or extend any materials on any exterior surface of an MIT residence, including rooftops.

Exception: During undergraduate orientation (the period between August 15 and undergraduate registration day), communities are permitted to safely affix banners to their residence hall with the approval and assistance of the Area Director. All banners must be safely removed on or before undergraduate registration day.

Section I: Background

Artwork in residences, typically in the form of painting, drawing, or sculpture, is intended to contribute to a positive living environment. MIT allows undergraduate residences to display student artwork. This is a privilege given to students. The purpose of these policies and protocols (the 'Residential Art Policy') is to outline how to balance the interests in allowing such freedom of expression and the interests of a discrimination- and harassment-free educational, work, or living environment.

Section I, Subsection I: Definition of Artwork vs Graffiti

Artwork differs from graffiti, posters, and flyers. Graffiti are writings, drawings, or scrawlings without permission on a permanent surface and are not protected by this policy.

Graffiti can contribute to a hostile environment, and may be reported to the House Team, DSL, or MIT Police. If it is not certain whether something is artwork or graffiti and whether the community will be upset if something is removed, community members are encouraged to err on the side of caution and promote discussion. Disagreements as to whether a particular work is art or graffiti will be resolved under the process described below.

Posters and flyers are also impermanent, and are subject to specific poster policies at MIT that may be set by the house government.

Section I, Subsection II: The Purpose of Artwork

Artwork can be an integral part of student culture in many MIT living groups, and can serve several useful purposes as listed below.

  • Allow for creative self-expression of students.
  • Create a greater sense of comfort, "home"-ness, and connection to the residence by giving students the opportunity to modify and contribute to their living space.
  • Foster camaraderie and bolster support networks by allowing students to collaborate in defining and designing their living space.
  • Contribute to MIT's broader image of creativity and innovation.

Section I, Subsection III: Contextualizing Artwork

1. Art context

All artwork is placed in a residence in a certain context that is with some purpose or motivation. This could include promoting discussion on a specific topic, adding to an existing theme or highlighting an aspect of society, recalling a story, or adding an attractive visual aesthetic. The specific motivation and location for artwork may thus provide context for images present in the art.

2. Responsibility regarding art context

A visitor to a residence, such as a parent or a visiting student, will not necessarily understand the context of a piece of art. While any objection to images in artwork must be treated with utmost seriousness, in some cases, providing information about how the artwork fits into house culture can provide appropriate context to the visitor and offset concerns.

  • It is the responsibility of a house to be able to explain its artwork to the visitor.
  • Explanatory material such as a printout or something more permanent can be affixed to the artwork.
  • Alternatively, artwork can be listed in one document and their motivation briefly described. This is readily done for new artwork, as it is required for approval of new artwork (Section II, Subsection I).
  • A representative list of artwork, together with individual living group policies and this Residential Art Policy should be prepared and available to all.

Section I, Subsection IV: Material in Artwork Relating to a Welcoming Environment

The opportunity for self-expression through artwork comes with a responsibility to ensure standards that promote a welcoming environment for residents, staff, and visitors. These standards should be mindful of MIT policies as well as all relevant laws.

  • It is MIT policy that artwork in any MIT building must not contain images or language that has the intent or effect of reasonably interfering with an individual or group's educational or work performance at MIT or that creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive educational, work, or living environment.
  • This policy applies to artwork in shared spaces, including those shared with a roommate.
  • Artwork must comply with the MIT Mind and Hand Book, individual house policies, MIT Policies and Procedures, and the law.
  • Artwork that would violate these policies include, but are not necessarily limited to, those with images or language that are derogatory on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, ancestry, or national or ethnic origin.

Section II: Creating New Art

When residents want to create new artwork in any shared space, the following steps must be taken.

Section II, Subsection I: Shared and More Private Spaces

Residences are required to consider and codify which spaces are shared, and by whom.

  • While there is more flexibility in more private spaces such as dorm rooms, there is responsibility to restrain presence of material that may be offensive to other residents or visitors in all areas
  • In all cases, including shared dorm rooms, new artwork should be discussed among members of the living community, including the House Team, before execution.
  • Following an objection, existing artwork in shared dorm rooms should immediately be covered or temporarily removed (as described in Section III, Subsection I) while the conflict is resolved.
  • In the case of summer visiting students, artwork that may be objectionable will be temporarily removed and then reinstalled for the new academic year.
  • The artist who created the artwork should be identified by name.
  • Artwork in shared spaces may not be used to engage in harassment, discrimination, retaliation, invasion of personal privacy, defamation, threats or violence, targeting of groups or individuals, or infringing the intellectual property rights of others.
  • Artwork must comply with individual living group policies, MIT Policies and Procedures, the MIT Mind and Hand Book, and the law.
  • More specifically, artwork in any shared spaces must not contain material that creates an environment that a reasonable person would consider intimidating, hostile, or abusive and that adversely affects an individual’s educational, work, or living environment.
  • Unacceptable material includes images or language that is derogatory or discriminatory on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, religion, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, or national or ethnic origin.

Section II, Subsection II: Responding to an Art Proposal

Each residential group must develop a process for community approval. The 'community' includes student residents, as well as the Head of House, Graduate Resident Advisors (GRAs), Area Director (AD) (the 'House Team'), and other residential staff. The development and implementation of this process are crucial aspects of a residential art policy. Discussion around artwork can provide an opportunity for students to consider and learn how to conduct open and fair discussion of a controversial topic.

At a minimum, the following procedure should be followed, and each dorm is responsible for maintaining and informing residents of their specific policy.

1. Conception of the artwork

Residents of a dorm should be apprised of the MIT policies on harassment and nondiscrimination in order to understand community and MIT considerations underlying artwork. Thus, it is the responsibility of the artist to consider whether artwork might be offensive for the community that will be frequently exposed to the art. At the time of conception, opinion might be sought from within the dorm and from the House Team around the idea in mind. Other offices with relevant expertise may also be consulted.

2. Notification and presentation of artwork design

All community members who will be exposed to new artwork (either the whole residence hall , or those living in the area/floor for which the art is planned) must be notified of proposed artwork, provided with a written and schematic description of the proposed work, and the motivation for/significance of the art.

3. Handling objections to artwork within a residence

Students and the House Team must be given a stated, sufficient period to consider the proposed artwork, as well as an opportunity to raise any concerns or objections. Members of the community are encouraged to work collaboratively to attempt to resolve any concerns informally by raising concerns to their community leaders, Head of House, GRA, Area Director, and/or house government.

If any member of the community has a concern that they do not wish to resolve by informal discussion, they must provide a written explanation to the House Team that describes the objection to the artwork. The explanation should provide reasons for the objection. If requested, the identity of the person raising a concern will be kept confidential by the House Team. Alternatively, anyone wishing to raise a concern confidentially can contact IDHR or other MIT personnel, such as staff in the Office of Community Standards and Student Conduct, with relevant expertise.

The residential community should follow a defined house process to come up with a suggested modification that is acceptable to both the artist(s) and objector(s). As necessary, this process should include the following steps:

  • Consultation of the GRA in that area/floor, who should lead a community conversation about the artwork in question.
  • If concerns are not resolved on the floor level, the GRA should engage the House Team, House Government, and the community members to reach consensus on an appropriate outcome.
  • If a complaint is made by a resident or nonresident to the IDHR, DSL, a member of the House Team, or to another person or group outside of the community responsible for the artwork, the complaint should be referred back to the community housing the artwork, unless doing so would otherwise violate MIT policy (for example, in certain cases involving gender-based concerns).
  • In cases where concerns are not resolved, a professional mediator may be employed.
  • Any decision made concerning disputed artwork by the House Team and House Government should be communicated to both the proposer(s) of the artwork and the complainant(s), and any recommended modifications to the design should be made before the artwork is put up.
4. Input of an external panel

If agreement cannot be reached within the residential community, the proposed art will be submitted to a panel of faculty and students (with the suggestion that these members be of the Committee on Student Life), MIT personnel with other relevant expertise and a representative of the Vice Chancellor and Dean for Student Life (with the suggestion that this person is a member of Housing & Residential Services), who together will make a decision as to whether the artwork should be allowed. The panel will convene as needed and will consult with IDHR for complaints that the artwork violates MIT's discrimination or discriminatory harassment policies.

Section II, Subsection III: Painting the artwork

Once community approval is obtained, the artwork can be painted according to residence policies. Each group is responsible for educating its residents about any such practices.

Residents must follow appropriate procedures regarding allowed media before artwork can be effected (e.g., where may painting occur - typically a makerspace? on canvas or other approved medium? what types of paints are allowed?, etc.) The House Operations Manager should be consulted about these policies in each living group. The DSL EHS Program Manager may also be consulted for guidance.

Additionally, each residential group may create supplementary practices, such as requiring a deposit to paint artwork or pooling resources for appropriate painting supplies.

Section III: Existing Artwork

Some artwork may have been in place for many years. While these may constitute a historical record of student culture, it is the right of current members to reconsider the presence of each piece of art. Other members of the MIT community or guests may also consider the appropriateness of existing artwork. Changes in opinion may affect whether artwork is appropriate for continued inclusion.

Section III, Subsection I: Requesting Modification or Removal of Existing Artwork

If a community member (defined as in Section II, Subsection II), summer guest, or other person believes a piece of existing artwork creates a hostile environment or is otherwise a violation of an MIT policy or the law, the community member should either inform IDHR, HRS, House Team or House Government. If a community member would like to raise an objection for personal reasons about a piece of artwork, the policies under Section II, Subsection II, paragraph (4) should be used instead.

  • Aspects of the artwork in question should be covered by a temporary measure (e.g., a piece of paper or cloth) or temporarily moved (in the case of canvas, panels or a sculpture) until a conclusion is reached.
  • The covering should be discussed with the House Operations Manager to comply with safety considerations. A temporary solution should be reached. As decided by each residence, the House Operations Manager, the House Team, and House Government should be made aware of such a situation during the process.
  • If the objection is made within a residence, the protocols described in Section II, Subsection II, paragraphs (3) and (4) should be followed. If a complaint is made to an MIT office outside the residence, including the IDHR or DSL, the affected residential community will participate in an investigation of the complaint that may result in a report to a panel (Section II, Subsection II). However, if the complaint alleges a violation of MIT’s policy against sexual misconduct or other gender bias, IDHR may investigate as described in Section II, Subsection II, paragraph (5). In the case of other forms of discrimination, resolution by the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards may be applicable.

Section III, Subsection II: Artwork Upkeep

Each House Team and/or House Government is responsible for maintaining and communicating to students and staff a written policy that addresses the following questions:

  • Who is responsible for the upkeep of artwork?
  • If artwork is defaced/vandalized, who should take steps to restore it?
  • If artwork must be removed for any reason, who is responsible for doing so?
  • If public art supplies are available, who is responsible for maintaining them?

If Housing & Residential Services has planned renovation work that would disrupt or remove a piece of art, they will remove, store, and reinstall the piece.

House Operations Managers should be made aware of the Residential Art Policy and apprise HRS Operations Staff and the Department of Facilities of these procedures during renovations.

See also: Policy on Murals in First Year and Transfer Rooms [Random Hall Only