March Match: Building Bridges Beyond Campus
March Match, Bard’s alternative spring break initiative through the Center for Civic Engagement, pairs students with local organizations for hands-on work, giving students a chance to work directly with these organizations and get involved with the community around Bard.
This year, one of those matches came into focus through Bard students working with the Center for Photography at Woodstock (CPW), a space that has been actively redefining its place in Kingston’s creative scene. What emerged wasn’t just a short-term internship, but rather an active representation of what community engagement can actually look like.
As Liz Ruffa, CPW's Director of Development, put it, “March Match is a program that has helped CPW spread awareness of local enrichment opportunities.” That might sound straightforward, but it gets at the deeper issue of access. Even when opportunities exist, such as free exhibitions, public programming, and creative workshops, they’re not always visible or easily accessible to the communities they’re meant to serve. March Match helps bridge that gap.
For CPW, this partnership is part of a larger transition. Since moving to Kingston in 2022 and settling into its Midtown Arts District location, the organization has been intentionally working toward becoming a “community hub for creatives.” But building that kind of presence isn’t automatic, and it requires outreach, trust, and sustained visibility. That’s where the students step in.
During March Match, Bard interns went beyond behind-the-scenes work. They were out in Kingston, Tivoli, and Red Hook, canvassing and talking directly with residents about CPW’s exhibitions and programs, many of which are free and open to the public. It’s a simple act, but one that fosters conversation and connection.
Liz mentioned, “By speaking directly with community members about all that CPW offers, the Bard interns created a bridge to a knit tight community that cares for their members and the arts”. Engagement isn’t just about showing up, but about linking spaces that might otherwise remain separate: campus and town, students and residents, art institutions and everyday life.
For students, the experience also pushed civic engagement beyond abstraction. Outreach became a way to learn about “community development, marketing, business development, and so much more,” as CPW noted. In other words, this wasn’t just volunteering, but an opportunity for skill-building grounded in real relationships.
And for CPW, the collaboration offered something equally valuable: new energy and new channels for reaching people. “Bard interns have been instrumental in helping CPW get the word out about our exhibitions, programs, and learning opportunities,” Liz shared. In this way, programs like March Match don’t just connect students to communities. They help both sides reimagine what they can be to each other, and in this union, what they can do for the community beyond.
Post Date: 04-04-2026