MICA seeks to serve students of all backgrounds, across the nation, around the world, and close to home. We understand that helping young local artists realize their artistic potential will make a lasting impact on Baltimore's creative landscape.
Helping fulfill that goal is the Art & Design College Accelerator Program (ADCAP), a transformative initiative that aims to provide equitable access to high-quality art and design education for Baltimore City students facing financial challenges in underserved communities. ADCAP not only embodies MICA’s mission to "thrive with Baltimore," it aligns with our conviction that artists, designers, and educators are powerful cultural innovators and agents of creative and progressive social change.
In a pivotal moment in the history of MICA’s commitment to empowering the local community through the arts, The Jacques and Natasha Gelman Foundation have committed $1,000,000 to endow the ADCAP program at MICA. In addition, The Alvin and Fanny B. Thalheimer Foundation has committed $500,000, which will be broken into $125,000 for the annual program support for ADCAP this year and $375,000 for the endowment.
ADCAP’s unique structure ensures that participating students receive not only the world-class educational material and curriculum that MICA is renowned for but also the advantages of a dedicated support network and individual mentorship. Each year, 15 coveted spaces are available, making it highly competitive. Students who are accepted into the program receive full scholarships for their participation, including costs for transportation, meals, and art supplies throughout their journey.
The foundations’ generous contributions will help build a permanent endowment to fully support ADCAP students pursuing BFAs at MICA, building on the program’s already impressive record.
- ADCAP has served students from 18 zip codes and who have attended 18 high schools (plus a number of homeschooled students)
- ADCAP student families have an average household income of $39,217
- While Baltimore City students have a 69.9% graduation rate with 43% of students going on to college, 100% of students completing the first three years of ADCAP graduate high school and attend college
- To date, 24 ADCAP students are pursuing their BFA at MICA
Watch the video below to learn more about ADCAP