Baltimore Museum of Art Director Doreen Bolger, on her Baltimore Sun blog Art-Full Life, said that there is a "rising creative class" in Baltimore, much because of the success of MICA students and alumni.  In the article, Who's Already Living the Art-Full Life?, Bolger says "Many, but not all, of these culture-creators studied at the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA), now among the very top art schools in the nation. ... These kids are transforming Charm City."

Founded in 1826, MICA is among the top visual arts colleges in the nation. It enrolls 1,714 undergraduate and 218 graduate students from 48 states and 52 foreign countries, offering programs of study leading to the bachelor of fine arts (B.F.A.), master of arts (M.A.), and master of fine arts (M.F.A.) degrees. It also offers post-baccalaureate certificate programs and a full slate of credit and noncredit courses for adults, college-bound students, and children. MICA is recognized as an important cultural resource for the Baltimore/Washington region, sponsoring many public and community-outreach programs-including more than 100 exhibitions by students, faculty, and nationally and internationally known artists annually-as well as artists' residencies, film series, lectures, readings, and performances.