Organizational History
In 1963 Columbia College Chicago was founded with a commitment to be a vital, vested member of its urban community. In 1998, the Center for Community Arts Partnerships (CCAP) was established to further that commitment. Originally, CCAP was a two person office administering a small but ambitious roster of arts-based partnerships between the college and community. Outgrowing its original space, CCAP now occupies a suite of offices in Columbia College's 33 E. Congress building. It employs 26 full-time staff and an average of 60 part-time staff, comprised of artists, teachers and college faculty.
CCAP's exponential growth is testament to the need for - and effectiveness of - innovative programming that combines the resources and best practices of each organization, school, cultural institution and academic department with which it works. Today, CCAP serves as an international model of what can be achieved through collaboration between schools and communities. Through it all, CCAP's vision of partnerships between Columbia College and communities throughout Chicago that are built on a commitment to reciprocity and sustainability remains the driving force behind all of its programs and initiatives.
CCAP's exponential growth is testament to the need for - and effectiveness of - innovative programming that combines the resources and best practices of each organization, school, cultural institution and academic department with which it works. Today, CCAP serves as an international model of what can be achieved through collaboration between schools and communities. Through it all, CCAP's vision of partnerships between Columbia College and communities throughout Chicago that are built on a commitment to reciprocity and sustainability remains the driving force behind all of its programs and initiatives.