The nation's oldest independent, fully accredited, degree-granting college of art, the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) has a long history of pioneering civic engagement through innovative, unique programming that immerses its faculty and students in community partnership and graduate study in East Baltimore and beyond.

MICA launched the country's first M.A. in Community Arts program (MACA)  in 2005 to serve visual artists who wish to pursue careers in art-based community development. This year, MICA launched an M.F.A. in Community Arts. Professional growth opportunities for students in this field are also supported by the creation of the Community Art Collaborative (CAC), an AmeriCorps program, in 2003 and the Community Arts Partnerships (CAP) internship program in 1999. Social design initiatives include the Center for Design Practice (CDP), a multi-disciplinary studio established in 2007 that collaborates with outside organizations enabling the students to problem solve and use design to make a positive impact on society, and the Design Coalition class, founded 10 years ago as a MICA and Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health partnership, which challenges students with social- and community-based design work with an emphasis on East Baltimore projects and relationships. In addition, graphic design, environmental design, video & film arts and general fine arts are just some of the undergraduate programs engaging in collaborative work focusing on public health education, urban development, historic preservation and empowerment building.

For more information about the College's innovative programming, contact MICA's Office of Communications at 410.225.2300.

Founded in 1826, Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) is the oldest continuously degree-granting college of art and design in the nation. The College enrolls more than 2,000 undergraduate, graduate, and continuing studies students from 46 states and 53 countries in fine arts, design, electronic media, art education, liberal arts and professional studies degree and non-credit programs. Redefining art and design education, MICA is pioneering interdisciplinary approaches to problem solving, research, and community and social engagement. Alumni and programming reach around the globe, even as MICA remains a cultural cornerstone in the Baltimore/Washington region, hosting hundreds of exhibitions and events annually by students, faculty, and other established artists.