Somerville Arts Educator Recognized With Common Good Award

SOMERVILLE, MA — Massachusetts College of Art and Design President Mary Grant announced that educator May Chau is a recipient of this year’s MassArt Common Good Award.

Chau is Somerville Public Schools’ Visual Arts Supervisor. The Arlington resident supervises the art-related education of the district’s 5,000 students throughout its 10 schools. MassArt credits her for emphasizing the importance of creativity in her curriculum as well as encouraging students to apply their artistic lessons to other aspects of their lives.

Chau graduated from MassArt in 2007, and went on to earn a graduate certificate in Creative Leadership from Hale Education’s Perrone Sizer Institute in Westwood. She has also participated in workshops at Harvard’s Office of the Arts and Snow Farm: The New England Craft Program. She is also a member of the National Art Education Association and the National Council on Education for Ceramic Arts.

“May’s dedication to arts education has shaped countless young minds and inspired creative futures,” Grant said. “As an artist and educator, she exemplifies the power of mentorship, collaboration, and imagination to spark lifelong learning and build inclusive communities. We are proud to celebrate her work with this year’s Common Good Award.”

Chau will be one of 6 recipients recognized at The MassArt Common Good Awards ceremony on Saturday, Dec. 7 at the school’s Design and Media Center in Boston. The MassArt Common Good Awards recognize individuals and organizations that use art in the fields of education, advocacy, and community development.