The Sm[ART] Commons Blog may have started as an internship project in 2015, but has since grown to compile a diverse database of visual, performing, and literary arts 由MCLA的学生制作.
This year, co-editors Mannie McBride ‘25 (they/them) and Maxwell Fyfe ‘25 (he/him), are focused on broadening content for the blog to encompass even more creative art 和文学. The blog is designed for current and prospective students, alumni, 以及周围的社区. It also showcases interviews, articles, reviews, resources, and profiles of professionals in the field, alumni, and students providing a platform for students to investigate the field of arts and culture.
The blog is supervised by 艺术管理 Professor Dr. 丽莎·多诺万，并提出 实习学生. McBride majors in Studio 艺术s and minors in Creative Writing, and Fyfe majors in Studio 艺术s and 艺术管理 and minors in 艺术 历史 and Design.
“What I love about this is that the editors shape it and it’s run by students for 多诺万说. “I think that’s an essential feature of it and it’s amazing to see how many students are engaged in the creative arts across campus because there’s 才华横溢.”
This year McBride and Fyfe want to focus more on creative writing and theater students including collaborating with students in 英语 & 传播学副教授 Dr. Zachary Finch’s poetry classes and the new 艺术 历史 classes.
In one of Fyfe’s classes, he suggested that students publish their work on the blog instead of just sharing it with the class so that it’s more visible to the campus 社区.
“We were talking as a class about if we want to present the work that we create in 这堂课传到了校园的其他地方. I suggested to have the students’ work published on the blog for everyone to see, and not just to those who are in the class,” Fyfe 说.
Featured illustration: "Wind Carry Me Across Lake" by Hailey Rolon '24
Those who the editors have reached out to for interviews and students to submit work on the blog have been very receptive, the editors 说.
“Everyone is really excited that we want them to be involved,” McBride 说.
McBride takes on the role of writing and interviewing while Fyfe is responsible for publishing content to the website and managing the Instagram account.
Donovan 说 the blog has had co-editors over the last few years who bring something new and unique to the table to round out the offerings. 例如，去年的编辑 started a “New Music Fridays” series where they asked students on campus what songs 他们在听. That ended up as a featured playlist that was promoted on the Sm[ART] Commons Blog social media accounts. They also worked to highlight student musicians and the story behind their creative process, such as Odiase Williamson ‘22, an 艺术管理 graduate with a music and graphic design background who produces alternative pop-rock style music that can be streamed on Spotify.
“I think there are so many internship opportunities on and off campus and this has been one that’s been interesting to watch evolve,” Donovan 说. “一本编辑手册 has been developed and each year the blog editors continue to develop it and pass it on, which shows how it’s getting richer and richer.”
To learn more about the Sm[ART] Commons Blog visit smartcommonsblog.mcla.Edu和follow
for updates on Instagram @smartcommonsblog. 
