Special programs put students at the leading edge of cultural and artistic developments in the United States and abroad.
The Graduate Studies Lecture Series brings prominent writers, artists, curators, and scholars to campus for presentations and discussions, while the Architecture Lecture Series attracts some of the foremost architects practicing today. Other lecture series feature industrial designers, furniture artists, and graphic designers. See a list of past Graduate Lecture Series presenters.
The Wattis Institute for Contemporary Arts hosts a frequently changing array of national and international contemporary artists. The Wattis Institute presents four to six exhibitions a year and sponsors a plethora of artist talks, symposia, and performances. In 1998 the prominent international artist residency program Capp Street Project became a part of the Wattis Institute, offering students an unparalleled opportunity to work closely with significant artists, architects, and designers.
In addition, the campus is home to the San Francisco chapter of the American Institute of Graphic Arts, with which it cosponsors events and lectures. Small Press Traffic, also housed on the San Francisco campus, is a literary arts organization that unites independent readers, writers, and presses through public readings, talks, and conferences. Finally, San Francisco Cinematheque offers a Sunday-night film series screened at the campus.
Reaching deeply into the community, the Center for Art and Public Life focuses on establishing community partnerships based on creative practice—bringing together CCA faculty and students with K–12 teachers, art educators, and youth. The Center provides a variety of opportunities for students to apply their skills as artists, architects, writers, and designers in educational and community settings. Working in communities from Chacala, Mexico, to Oakland, California, our students are making a difference through the arts.