A trip north to Portland, Maine is always a treat and my most recent visit was no exception. I was greeted by Laura Freid, now in her seventh year as the President of Maine College of Art and Design. We first met more than 20 years ago while Dr. Freid was earning her doctorate at the University of Pennsylvania and we have remained friends ever since. At her invitation, I was able to spend a delightful few hours touring the campus and meeting several distinguished faculty and staff.
Located in the heart of the Portland Arts District, Maine College of Art & Design offers a Bachelor of Fine Arts, Master of Fine Arts in Studio Art, Master of Arts in Teaching, and the Salt Graduate Certificate in Documentary Studies, as well as Continuing and Professional Studies for adults and youth, including a three week Pre-College summer intensive for high school students.
The institution’s roots date back more than 140 years, beginning as the Portland Society of Art. Since then, there have been any number of name changes but that makes sense, as innovation and evolution are clearly in the DNA of Maine College of Art & Design. The college has been accredited by NECHE since 1978 and became known by its current moniker in 2021.
As any realtor could tell you, location matters — and its home in Portland’s hip Arts District gives MECA&D a tremendous advantage. Its primary facility is the five-story, former Porteous, Mitchell & Braun Department Store that anchored Portland’s business district from1946 to the early 1990s and after its closure, was bought by MECA&D in 1993. Since then, the college has acquired a number of neighboring buildings for art departments and residence halls. In fact, just before my visit, I learned that the college had signed a real estate deal further expanding its footprint.
During my tour, we visited the Ceramics Studio on the top floor of the 150,000 square-foot Porteous building, with glorious views of Casco Bay and an HVAC system capable of exchanging 100% of the air every minute.
Given the studio’s dozen kilns operating at 2000+degrees, that’s a big breath of fresh air! President Freid and I spent a half-hour talking with the dynamic Program Chair of Ceramics, Patrick Coughlin, and I think if we had had more time, I might still be there. In answering my question as to what graduates did with a ceramics degree, Coughlin elucidated some fascinating pathways:
- Graduates with a Ceramics BFA can pursue careers as professional artists.
- Others find employment in the design industry, creating functional and decorative ceramic products for home decor and tableware, or with interior design companies.
- Some collaborate with architects to create custom ceramic installations for residential and commercial spaces.
- Still others work in museums or cultural institutions, curating exhibitions and managing collections.
- And some teach at art schools, community centers, public schools and universities.
We followed our ceramics tour with a visit to the college’s Institute of Contemporary Art which was showing the “Collect Art Sale” featuring 130 artists (students and alumni) and 435 stunning artworks, the proceeds of which would be split between the artist and the school. Boy, was I sorry I didn’t have time to peruse the full collection and take a few pieces home with me!
One last thought about the ability of MECA&D to evolve its mission over time. The addition of the “D” to the MECA name came as the college leadership recognized that career opportunities for design-savvy graduates were opening up across all industries — especially in tech — with the potential to recruit students hoping to excel in those careers. In fact, while the fine arts and crafts remain an important part of the school’s mission, in the last decade more than 60% of its students pursue careers in media and design. From animation and game art to illustration and graphic design, and from textile and fashion to woodworking and furniture design, MECA&D students are learning critical skills and finding excellent jobs upon graduation.
It was wonderful to learn that arts graduates do make a living …and to witness an arts school that continues to find new ways to stay deeply relevant and thriving, while never losing the essential character of Maine!
