Artists for Community (AFC) is a great way for first-year students to learn about future possibilities of becoming a professional artist, architect, or designer working at the intersection of art and public life.

As an AFC member, students live near each other in a dedicated wing at Clifton Hall and have an AFC Residence Hall Advisor. As participants, students of all disciplines gain valuable and exciting introductory opportunities that combine art, community, and social activism, in ways that further their studio education at California College of the Arts.

If you are an incoming first-year student at CCA and plan to live on campus and would like to apply to the AFC program, see Housing on the CCA website.

AFCs are encouraged to continue working in community art by applying to the Community Student Fellows program.

Events

AFCs have field trips to community events and sites, as well as dinners with professional guests and faculty discussing their community-based art practices. AFC works as a team with their Resident Advisor to create their own projects and happenings.

Howl-O-Ween Bash
The Howl-O-Ween Bash was a safe Halloween event for Oakland youth held at the college's Webster Hall.

AFC students, along with many of the residence hall students and staff, turned an entire floor into a haunted house, another floor into a trick-or-treat hall, and the lobby into a place for Oakland families to decorate pumpkins, make their own costumes, and other arts activities.

This project was supported by generous donations from local businesses, who supplied candy and supplies.

Field Trip to the Art Ship
The Art Ship is a 452-foot ship and home to a variety of community arts programs.

AFCs had a chance to meet the director of the foundation, tour the ship (including the dance theater residency's practice space in the hull of the ship), see a variety of artists in residence on the ship, and try out one of the industrial design prototypes made for this community arts ship.