Hampshire College, Whose Alumni List Includes Many Well-Known Artists, to Close After 51 Years

Hampshire College, a liberal arts school in Amherst, Massachusetts, will close after 51 years and is set to shutter following the fall 2026 semester, according to ARTnews. The college has been influential in the art world, counting alumni such as painter Christina Quarles, painter Math Bass, and artist Every Ocean Hughes, as well as non-artist alumni including filmmaker Ken Burns, actress Lupita Nyong’o, and writer Eula Biss. Students will be able to complete their degrees at other regional institutions including Smith College, the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and Bennington College. The closure follows financial strain, including reported enrollment shortfalls and debt that reached $20 million per a 2025 audit, and president Jennifer Chrisler called the decision “an incredibly painful moment” in a public statement.

Read the full article at ARTnews.com