Civic and Cultural Outreach
As a major force in the revitalization of Chicago's South Loop area and home to a range of outreach efforts, Columbia College Chicago has an incalculable impact on the city and its people.
Much of the impact is a direct result of educating the authors of our emerging culture - the students who will shape the arts and media of our time and the future. But much of our impact is due to activities designed to touch the public in creative, constructive, and important ways.
These efforts include:
Career Beginnings
Program assists students from urban high schools to make the transition to college or careers.
CCAP - Center for Community Arts Partnerships
Students at Columbia are encouraged to go beyond the ivory tower of academia and see the classroom are including the "real world" of the city and the diverse communities it comprises. CCAP creates and nurtures reciprocal arts partnerships connecting college and community. Through CCAP community partnership activities like Urban Missions and Arts in Youth and Community Development, hundreds of young people from Chicago communities have gained an awareness of the college and the skills necessary for pursuing higher education. More...
Chicago Center for Arts Policy
One of several centers focusing on culture in America, the Center for Arts Policy explores and defines arts policy in American society.
More about the center for arts policy...
More about Columbia's centers of research...
Community Media Workshop
The Community Media Workshop supports the broad public discussion necessary for a healthy democracy. Among its programs: training programs for non-profits in effective communication strategies and news tips for media and others. More...
High School Summer Institute
The High School Summer Institute is an intensive 5-week program for creative high school students that have completed their sophomore, junior, or senior year of study who want to immerse themselves in the visual, media, and communication arts. Students spend the summer exploring their ideas, developing the technical skills that bring their ideas to life, and earning college credit while they’re at it! More...
International Latino Cultural Center of Chicago
The International Latino Cultural Center of Chicago is a nonprofit organization committed to promoting Latino culture and fostering understanding between Latinos and other Americans. The Center produces various cultural events, including comedy, dance, music, poetry, theater, and visual arts exhibitions. More...
New Expression
In residence at Columbia, this free, monthly, city-wide newspaper is written by, for, and about Chicago teens. New Expression covers subjects such as budget cuts in education, teen voting, and military recruiting. More...
ArtUP
ArtUP is the Center for Community Arts Partnerships’ (CCAP) newest college readiness initiative. Generously supported by Columbia College Chicago, the Circle of Service Foundation and Kraft Foods, ArtUP is designed for students who are interested in pursuing a career in the arts and media, or applying to an arts college. Through participation in ArtUP, students gain access to the numerous resources available at Columbia College Chicago. This early exposure to a college environment is critical to helping first generation college-bound students attain a career in the arts and media. ArtUP takes place during the summer and academic year and is available to CPS students (grades 8-12) who are interested in a career in the arts and media, or want to enroll in an arts college. More...
Summer Arts Camp
An arts day camp for children. More...
Upward Bound Program
Serving high school students from two Chicago high schools - Foreman and Benito Juarez - Upward Bound assists students in making the transition from high school to a college. More...
Much of the impact is a direct result of educating the authors of our emerging culture - the students who will shape the arts and media of our time and the future. But much of our impact is due to activities designed to touch the public in creative, constructive, and important ways.
These efforts include:
Career Beginnings
Program assists students from urban high schools to make the transition to college or careers.
CCAP - Center for Community Arts Partnerships
Students at Columbia are encouraged to go beyond the ivory tower of academia and see the classroom are including the "real world" of the city and the diverse communities it comprises. CCAP creates and nurtures reciprocal arts partnerships connecting college and community. Through CCAP community partnership activities like Urban Missions and Arts in Youth and Community Development, hundreds of young people from Chicago communities have gained an awareness of the college and the skills necessary for pursuing higher education. More...
Chicago Center for Arts Policy
One of several centers focusing on culture in America, the Center for Arts Policy explores and defines arts policy in American society.
More about the center for arts policy...
More about Columbia's centers of research...
Community Media Workshop
The Community Media Workshop supports the broad public discussion necessary for a healthy democracy. Among its programs: training programs for non-profits in effective communication strategies and news tips for media and others. More...
High School Summer Institute
The High School Summer Institute is an intensive 5-week program for creative high school students that have completed their sophomore, junior, or senior year of study who want to immerse themselves in the visual, media, and communication arts. Students spend the summer exploring their ideas, developing the technical skills that bring their ideas to life, and earning college credit while they’re at it! More...
International Latino Cultural Center of Chicago
The International Latino Cultural Center of Chicago is a nonprofit organization committed to promoting Latino culture and fostering understanding between Latinos and other Americans. The Center produces various cultural events, including comedy, dance, music, poetry, theater, and visual arts exhibitions. More...
New Expression
In residence at Columbia, this free, monthly, city-wide newspaper is written by, for, and about Chicago teens. New Expression covers subjects such as budget cuts in education, teen voting, and military recruiting. More...
ArtUP
ArtUP is the Center for Community Arts Partnerships’ (CCAP) newest college readiness initiative. Generously supported by Columbia College Chicago, the Circle of Service Foundation and Kraft Foods, ArtUP is designed for students who are interested in pursuing a career in the arts and media, or applying to an arts college. Through participation in ArtUP, students gain access to the numerous resources available at Columbia College Chicago. This early exposure to a college environment is critical to helping first generation college-bound students attain a career in the arts and media. ArtUP takes place during the summer and academic year and is available to CPS students (grades 8-12) who are interested in a career in the arts and media, or want to enroll in an arts college. More...
Summer Arts Camp
An arts day camp for children. More...
Upward Bound Program
Serving high school students from two Chicago high schools - Foreman and Benito Juarez - Upward Bound assists students in making the transition from high school to a college. More...