Black Mountain College: Breaking Barriers in Art through Inclusiveness and Individuality

When Black Mountain College was founded in 1933, American public education was suffering the effects of the Great Depression;  slashed budgets and the loss of teaching positions led to the removal of arts and humanities programs viewed as “frivolous.” John A. Rice, the founder of Black Mountain College, was fired from his job at Rollins College because of his differences with faculty over these cuts and academic freedom.

Liberal arts education came from Ancient Greek and Roman civilizations, who considered art, reflection, and discussion vital parts of their lives. Rice agreed that arts were crucial to a well-rounded education. He and the faculty also supported giving students a voice about their education, letting them pick how and what they wanted to learn. The students even chose when they wanted to graduate.  Some loved the school so much, they never did.

Aside from the German Bauhaus School, few colleges focused on the arts in the 20th century. When the Nazis forced the Bauhaus School’s closure in 1933, the new Black Mountain College welcomed many Bauhaus faculty and other persecuted European intellectuals.

For most of the college’s existence from 1933-1957, the U.S either struggled with economic depression or engaged in war. The college’s approach to shortages reflected its resourcefulness. A campus farm, run by the students and faculty, provided most of the school’s food, plus some to sell. Trash was frequently repurposed into art projects.

​​​​​​​After World War Two, the Second Red Scare and Americans’ rising fear of Communism, created a hostile climate for Black Mountain College. Dwindling enrollment and funds ultimately drove it to close in 1957.