Community Arts Collaborative (CAC) at Maryland Institute College of Art

Created in 2004, the Community Art Collaborative (CAC) is the only program of its kind in Maryland that links artists, communities, and institutions of higher education. Housed in the Office of Community Engagement at MICA, this program places community artists in year-long residencies with nonprofits, schools, and community centers in Baltimore City. The work of CAC member artists provides children, youth, and adults with the benefits of after-school arts-based learning experiences and strengthens neighborhoods through community art projects. Read More

• About Us
  About CAC
  The Community Art Collaborative is a community arts-focused AmeriCorps program that has been hosted at the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) since 2004, and is funded in part by a grant from the Maryland Governor’s Office on Service and Volunteerism, and the Corporation for National and Community Service. In the CAC program, AmeriCorps members are matched with non-profit community organizations around the city,
  to serve year-long (September - August) community arts residencies. In these residencies, members primarily facilitate after-school arts-based learning experiences that serve K-12 youth in Baltimore City. Members also have the opportunity to facilitate art-making opportunities for community residents, recruit and manage volunteers, develop special projects, and gain valuable professional experience in the community arts and non-profit fields.
  
  The program offers many benefits, including a living stipend, free healthcare, and a federal Education Award (of around $5,800) that is given at the end of one year of service in the program, which can be used for pursuing future education opportunities.
  
  CAC also serves as the "Community Arts Residency" for graduate students in the MFA Community Arts program, to provide in-the-field experience during their graduate studies. Though, you do not need to be a graduate student to apply!
  
  The CAC group has space for 12 members every year, and usually about half are graduate students, and half are emerging artists doing the program full-time. Please check out our website to learn more about the program, and feel free to reach out with any questions! Website: http://www.mica.edu/cac
  
  
  About AmeriCorps
  AmeriCorps is a national service program that engages thousands of people each year in service to their communities in critical areas like education, health, and conservation. To learn more about AmeriCorps, please visit www.americorps.gov.
  
  AmeriCorps service is a ten-month full-time commitment starting September through July. In order to serve, you must be at least 17 years old, possess a high school diploma or equivalent, and be a US citizen, national, or lawful permanent resident. Participation in CAC is conditional upon completion of a National Service Criminal History Check and other eligibility requirements.
• Our Impact
  CAC continues to be driven by research that proves the positive correlation between arts-based learning and academic achievement. A study of 25,000 students showed that middle school and high school students who participate in in-school and out-of-school arts activities see significant increases in grades and test scores compared to their peers who do not. The same study found that students who participate in the arts are less likely to drop out of high school or watch more than 3 hours of television per day; they are more likely to define community service as important to them. Teachers indicate that students engaged in the arts surpass their peers in creativity, expression, and imagination. Other studies have found that arts-based learning enhances student achievement by promoting a sense of competency in reading and math.
  
  CAC member artists have facilitated after-school and community art projects that include:
  
  - Youth-led video projects on topics like conservation, health, and education
  - Neighborhood art festivals
  - Indoor and outdoor murals
  - Community gardens
  - Symposiums on social justice issues
  - Youth-led performances in dance, theater, and spoken word
  - Neighborhood oral history projects
  - After-school programs in photography, painting, collage, clay, dance, and much more
  
  CAC members are passionate about art, youth, and communities. They come from across the country and bring different experiences and strengths to the program. Some CAC members are concurrently enrolled in MICA's MFA in Community Arts (MFACA) program. Their service in CAC fulfills the degree program's residency requirement. All CAC members undergo professional development training in community organizing, social justice curriculum development, classroom management, and volunteer management.