Summary
Oregon College of Art & Craft (OCAC) is a college in Portland, Oregon, United States that grants Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees and certificates in book arts, ceramics, drawing and painting, fibers, metals, photography and wood. The college also offers an Artist-in-Residence program and provides continuing education in the arts to the local community. It was founded by Julia Hoffman, a photographer, painter, sculptor, metal worker and weaver, out of her desire to foster the Arts and Crafts movement through classes and exhibitions.
History
OCAC opened in September 1907.[1] The school was formerly known as the Oregon School of Arts & Crafts. In 1978, the school expanded its campus, adding 46,000 square feet (4,300 m2) of space at a cost of $1.5 million.[2] The college began offering a bachelor of fine arts degree.[3]
About 2005 the school started a capital campaign in order to raise over $14 million to expand the campus and double the size of their facilities.[1] Plans called for a new library and studios for their painting, drawing, and photography programs that would add 55,000 square feet (5,100 m2) of space on campus.[1][4] In September 2008, a groundbreaking ceremony was held for the 15,000 square feet (1,400 m2) studios building, with plans calling for completion in summer 2009.[5] The building opened in September 2010 as the Jean Vollum Drawing, Painting and Photography Building.[6] OCAC announced a joint master's in fine art program for applied craft and design with the Pacific Northwest College of Art in October 2008.[7]
College president Bonnie Laing Malcolmson announced her resignation in December 2009, effective May 2010.[8] Denise Mullen was then named as president of the school in June 2010, with her taking office on August 23.[9] The school added a masters in fine arts (MFA) degree in crafts in 2012,[10] followed by a master's in craft in 2013.[3] An MFA in applied crafts was already offered by the college in conjunction with the Pacific Northwest College of Art.[10]
Academics
Enrollment in the BFA program is about 140 full-time students. Most students are between 18 and 27 years old. The Continuing Education and Art Adventures children's programs serves more than 2,000 students per year. The school also offers MFAs in craft and applied craft.[10]
The school is a member of the Association of Independent Colleges of Art and Design, and is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD).[citation needed] OCAC is a candidate for accreditation by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU).[citation needed] The school's library has more than 9,000 books and is a member of the Washington County Cooperative Library Services.[11]
Faculty
OCAC employs 15 full-time faculty and 8 part-time faculty in the degree program, as well as a number of instructors in the Studio School continuing education program.
Campus
OCAC is located on a wooded 9.5-acre (38,000 m2) campus,[1] approximately 3 miles from Downtown Portland in unincorporated Washington County.[12] The campus was designed by Barbara Fealy, a landscape architect, and John Storrs, a Portland architect.[1]