Utica, N.Y. — This fall marks the 25th anniversary of Pratt Munson College of Art and Design’s partnership with Pratt Institute in Brooklyn through which more than 2,000 students have completed the first two years of their Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. Pratt Munson, a division of Munson and Pratt Institute’s upstate New York extension campus in Utica, N.Y., provides students with an intimate and supportive pathway to a world-class education.
“For 25 years, our unique partnership with Pratt Institute has brought emerging artists to Utica,” said Munson President and CEO Anna D’Ambrosio. “Each fall over 100 students, the next generation of creatives, join our community, honoring a legacy while creating their own.”
Beginning in the 1950s, Munson-Williams-Proctor Institute’s (now Munson) School of Art partnered with Utica College, and later with Mohawk Valley Community College through the 1990s to provide specialized art instruction and studio facilities while the partner colleges conferred degrees. This innovative model proved successful. Many graduates of these programs transferred to Pratt Institute, prompting Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute President Milton Bloch and Pratt Institute President Thomas Schutte to explore formalizing their partnership. Their discussions led to Munson’s School of Art becoming an official affiliate of Pratt Institute. The newly named PrattMWP (now Pratt Munson) welcomed its first class in 2000. These students then advanced to Pratt Institute’s Brooklyn campus in 2002 to complete their BFA degrees, marking the beginning of an enduring and successful partnership.
“This anniversary is not only a time to reflect on our past—it’s a time to envision the next chapter,” said Suzanne Snyder, dean of Pratt Munson. “Our students leave Utica with confidence, resilience, and a strong foundation that serves them wherever they go. We are proud of what Pratt Munson has become and excited about where it’s headed.”
This weekend, Oct. 3 through 5, Pratt Munson hosts its Family and Alumni Weekend celebrating the 25th anniversary. Highlights include the “25th Anniversary Alumni Exhibition,” opening Friday, Oct. 3, with works by alumni Lisa Champ ’09, Caitlyn D’Amico ’17, Mark DiOrio ’02, Erik Nilson ’12, and Anniella Pettingill ’24. They will participate in an artist panel at 3 p.m. in the Museum of Art’s Bank of Utica–Sinnott Family Auditorium, followed by a film screening of “Memoryscape” by retired professor of sculpture and 3D design Dan Buckingham. The public is welcome to join the exhibition opening in the Pratt Munson Gallery and celebration featuring the live music of alumni band Whiskeyhickon Boys in the Sculpture Grove at 4 p.m.
About Pratt Munson
Small class sizes allow Pratt Munson’s outstanding faculty of professional artists and designers to provide personalized attention to students to help them reach their full potential, including pursuing extracurricular work.
In just the last few months, one student earned statewide recognition for his entrepreneurial venture at the New York State Business Plan Competition and six students clinched prestigious awards in graphic design from Graphic Design USA, an organization that also recently recognized Pratt Munson as a top design school in the country.
Other students have worked directly with local organizations and businesses in the Mohawk Valley, creating logos that are seen by thousands of people, including the logo for the American Heart Association’s Greatest Heart Run & Walk in 2024 and 2025.
Pratt Munson students arrive at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn in the fall of their junior years ready to take on the academic and creative demands of New York City. Their time in Utica provides a strong foundation that helps them thrive during the final two years of their BFA and beyond.
“Pratt Munson students bring the depth and intimacy of their Utica experience to Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, where they are ready to thrive, contribute, and carry their creative practice forward,” said Pratt President Frances Bronet.
Employers hiring Pratt graduates include top creative and forward-thinking organizations like Amazon, Apple, DreamWorks, Google, Meta, Nickelodeon, Penguin Random House, and The Met—reflecting the strength of a Pratt education across fields.
For media inquiries or more information, please contact Katie Voce, communications manager, at 315-797-0000 ext. 2147 or via email at kvoce@munson.art.
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Munson is at 310 Genesee St. in Utica. For more information, visit munson.art.
About Munson
Munson is an internationally recognized fine arts organization in Utica, serving diverse audiences through a renowned Museum of Art, live performances and events, community arts classes, and Pratt Munson College of Art and Design, the upstate extension campus of the prestigious Pratt Institute.
