The Community Art Collaborative (CAC) was created in 2004. Since then, over 200 CAC members have worked with nearly 50 different host sites in Baltimore City. Their service expands the ability of their host sites to reach more Baltimore residents and engages thousands of neighbors in community art projects. In particular, CAC focuses on supporting youth participants to build confidence and sense of belonging in community.
Each CAC member's residency is unique - developed based on the interests of the host site and its community members, as well as the CAC member's creative expertise. CAC member artists have facilitated programming and projects that include the following (though not an exhaustive list!):
- After-school youth programs featuring arts instruction in a wide range of media, including photography, painting, collage, ceramics, mixed media, sculpture/construction, dance, theatre, music and much more!
- Indoor and outdoor murals, and other public artworks
- Youth entrepreneurship programming
- Youth-led video projects on topics like conservation, health, and education
- Neighborhood art festivals
- Community garden projects
- Symposiums on social justice issues
- Youth-led performances
- Neighborhood oral history projects
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. MFACA students receive rigorous training through their coursework in social justice curriculum development, the community arts discipline, and other topics. All CAC members participate in additional professional development workshops throughout the program year.
