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Montserrat College of Art tells Beverly council it is adapting and says "Montserrat is not closing"
Summary
Montserrat College of Art President Brian Pellon told the Beverly City Council on April 7 that the college is adapting enrollment and facilities under a plan called Montserrat 20–35, emphasized a $25 million annual economic impact on downtown Beverly and asked the council to discourage rumors that the college is closing.
President Brian Pellon of Montserrat College of Art told the Beverly City Council on April 7 that the college is reorienting programs and its physical footprint but is not closing.
Pellon said the college’s strategic plan, Montserrat 20–35, focuses on employability and experiential learning as the school adapts to lower international enrollment and demographic shifts. "Montserrat is not closing," he told the council, asking city leaders and residents to push back against rumors he said were damaging to enrollment and donor relations.
The presentation outlined several concrete facts about the college’s local footprint. Pellon said Montserrat produces more than $25,000,000 in annual economic impact for downtown Beverly and operates on an approximately $10,000,000 annual budget. He described steps the college is taking to become sustainable for the next decades, including selling unused buildings, reducing its physical footprint, not filling some positions in areas of declining enrollment and expanding internships, campus jobs and travel programs.
Pellon highlighted changes in student majors over recent years — noting a shift from studio arts to fields such as animation, illustration and graphic design — and invited councilors to tour Montserrat’s digital fabrication lab where students use 3D printers, laser cutters and CNC machines.
When Councilor Saint Hilaire asked about the Beverly Arts District and the college’s role, Pellon said Montserrat continues to partner with the city and Beverly Main Streets on programming and public art projects. He noted the college took part in an installation that filled a vacant dollar store space and said the parties meet regularly to update the district’s plan.
Pellon closed by promoting the college’s 55th anniversary fundraiser and reiterating the request that local leaders treat rumors about closure as inaccurate and harmful.
The council did not vote on any action related to the presentation; it was given time for questions from councilors and members of the public.
