For many Art, Film, and Visual Studies students, the senior thesis is the capstone experience in the department. Students conceive their theses in conjunction with the department and work closely with faculty members as principal advisers. Throughout the yearlong process, students develop and refine their ideas into a thesis work, concluding with its presentation in this annual exhibition. 

The Department of Art, Film, and Visual Studies is home to a range of studio and theoretical studies in the arts at Harvard University. It offers courses in painting, drawing, sculpture, film, video, and animation, as well as photography, film history, the built environment, and contemporary art. The academic experience transpires in the Carpenter Center for the Visual Arts, where thinking and making intersect to enable students from a variety of disciplinary studies to be aware of their visual environment. What Goes Up Keeps Going Up is available alongside Open Studios, a showcase of student work produced in spring courses. 

Generous support for Carpenter Center programing is provided by the Friends of the Carpenter Center.