About CCAP

Since 1998, the Center for Community Arts Partnerships (CCAP) at Columbia College Chicago has been transforming the lives of thousands of Chicago's young people through its unique approach to college-community partnership building. Founded on a mission to link the academic departments of Columbia College Chicago with diverse communities throughout the city and beyond, CCAP brings the concepts of community-based learning, arts-integrated curricula and reciprocal partnerships into the spotlight. It unites artists, educators, students, corporations, schools and community-based organizations to form meaningful, sustainable partnerships in the arts. 
 
At the heart of it all lies a commitment to improve the quality of education through a vision of collaboration in the arts and an emphasis on the value that civic engagement brings to student learning. The result is a practice that recognizes the unique needs and expertise of each partner, an approach based on mutual trust, respect, inclusiveness and voice. 

Rather than simply designing outreach projects, CCAP develops and implements arts education programming that cultivates ongoing relationships - true partnerships - among Columbia College, public schools and community-based organizations. Over the years, CCAP has developed a range of innovative, quality, arts-based programs from its public school initiatives like Community Schools, Project AIM and TEAM, to its Urban Missions program that works with community-based arts organizations throughout Chicago.

CCAP's programs and initiatives provide all participants the invaluable experience of community as the larger classroom, and ensure that knowledge flows both ways between college and community.

"CCAP brings an added dimension to the larger Columbia College community. It provides students with a chance to engage in real world experiences through the Center's work, enriching student life."

—Mark Kelly, Vice President of Student Affairs, Columbia College Chicago