Mission Statement CADVC is a forum for creative research in the fields of art and cultural production, realized through exhibitions, publications, residencies, and public programs. Committed to artists, curators, and scholars, and grounded in curiosity, learning, and social responsiveness, the Center supports rigorous artistic exploration through novel forms and accessible modes of public engagement. CADVC models the public university art center as a vital community hub for cultural inquiry, public imagination, and creative civic life. History The Center for Art, Design, and Visual Culture (CADVC) is a forum for research, exhibition, publication, and public programming in the fields of art, design, and visual culture. Founded as the Fine Arts Gallery in 1989, CADVC was established in 2003 as a CAHSS research center that expands the mandate of the academic art gallery in alignment with the rigor and interdisciplinary of UMBC as a research institution and Honors University. Historically, the Center has served as the university’s principal exhibition space. Today, CADVC is a forum for scholarship, publication, and experimental engagements in the fields of art, design, and visual culture. The Center also oversees the Joseph Beuys Sculpture Park and runs K-12 programs that serve Baltimore County and Baltimore City schools, among others. CADVC serves as a forum for exploring the social and aesthetic issues of the day. The Center is committed to rethinking the relationship between art institutions and the public, placing special emphasis on Well-written, viewer-friendly catalog and wall texts Rigorously documented and researched catalogs Lucid application of cultural and social theory to build connections between visual culture and the society at large Creative exhibition and publication design CADVC has enlarged upon and enhanced this mission by offering extensive educational outreach initiatives and publication programs, often in partnership with a variety of educational and cultural institutions. Land Acknowledgement UMBC was established upon the land of the Piscataway and Susquehannock peoples. Over time, citizens of many more Indigenous nations have come to reside in this region. We humbly offer our respect to all past, present, and future Indigenous people connected to this place.
