At Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design (RMCAD), creativity isn’t just something the college teaches, it’s something it lives by. Located off of Pierce Street in the 40 West Arts District, RMCAD is no stranger to the arts scene, whether out in the community or on its own campus grounds.
Its community of creatives — including students, alumni, faculty and staff — are heavily involved in the Denver Metro Area, with a common mission — sparking community through art and design.
At Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design (RMCAD), creativity isn’t just something the college teaches, it’s something it lives by.
Starting with its courses, RMCAD provides students with unique opportunities to get involved locally. Last year, graphic design students in the Design Systems class taught by Assistant Professor Heidi Landis supported an Arvada nonprofit, Horse Protection League (HPL), with a complete rebrand.
The client’s response was sensational, which matches feedback from other past class clients, like Ria’s Kitchen and Amanda’s World (known now as WE Solutions). In addition, through a class partnership with the Denver Botanic Gardens (DBG), student Harry Plymel created two sustainable, designed children’s books, which were accepted as part of the DBG’s library.
RMCAD’s professors are also the perfect role models for students. As working artists themselves, they not only participate in local galleries and exhibitions at venues like the McNichols Civic Center, Denver Convention Center, RedLine Contemporary Art Center, and Next Gallery, they also volunteer their time to host workshops and support students outside the classroom.
From Associate Professor Todd Dobbs’ guest talk at the Colorado Photographic Arts Center to Assistant Professor Tobias Fike’s involvement in the BRDG Project’s student-led exhibition “So Fresh and So New,” Denverites can find RMCAD faculty and staff almost everywhere, including National Portfolio Day (NPD) events.
Hosted locally but also across the country, NPD events provide students the opportunity to meet with representatives from a variety of NASAD (National Association of Schools of Art + Design) accredited colleges to review portfolios and discuss professional careers in the arts. RMCAD attends annually and will be hosting again in 2024 in Denver, Charlotte and Albuquerque.
Enriching and inspiring the next generation of off-site events like these are just the start, as the college regularly opens its campus to the community. This past spring, RMCAD hosted a movie night on campus for Edison Elementary, where third-grade students showcased their own artistic film creations for family and friends.
RMCAD’s involvement with school districts and local organizations in the metro area has been ongoing since the college’s founding in 1963.
Whichever hosting professional development days, regional councils meetings, or even MoPrint’s Steamroller Printmaking event, the college invites others to experience the wonders of its historic campus — which includes an auditorium and several public gallery spaces. Contact events@rmcad.edu to plan your next community gathering or join us for our next exhibition opening or visiting artist talk!
Field trips to experience RMCAD’s Wandering Pixel are also a popular request from local educators and community leaders. In the last 18 months, the creative workshop on wheels has visited around 75 schools and other local events, giving middle and high school students the opportunity to interact with the latest immersive art technology and explore the possibilities of creative careers in the arts.
