MECA&D at a Glance

Maine College of Art & Design delivers a transformative learning experience within an intimate and demanding educational environment by preparing students in the areas of artistic excellence, creative entrepreneurship, and civic engagement.

Location

Located in the heart of the Portland Arts District on the southern coast of Maine, Portland is a unique collective of culture, community, outdoor recreation, and great food. Students have access to all the opportunities of a big city while remaining only minutes from beaches, lakes, forests, and an abundance of natural beauty.  Major cities including Boston and New York are easily accessibly via train, bus, or flight.

For more than two centuries, artists have chosen Maine as a place to gather and work. Drawn by Maine’s rugged beauty and reputation for fierce individualism, artists in Maine are still pushing the boundaries of aesthetics, social engagement, and individual practice. At MECA&D, we take pride in Maine’s unique heritage as a site for inspiration and inquiry, and our students and faculty carry on and contribute to this heritage.

Voted one of the top 10 art towns in the country and America’s most livable city, Portland is a creative urban center on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. On the first Friday of every month, more than 70 galleries and studios open their doors for Art Walk. A pedestrian friendly city, Portland is filled with historic buildings, distinct neighborhoods, independent businesses, and local restaurants. Stunning beaches, state parks, and nature preserves are located only 10 minutes away.

Portland is a Destination for Art and Culture Seekers:

Student to Faculty Ratio

10:1

Artists at Work

At MECA&D, we want you to make art and make a living. We provide students with the skills, opportunities and experiences to be creative professionals for life. Artists at Work is a center to connect students and alumni to internships, jobs, commissions, professional development opportunities, and residencies. Learn more

Bachelor of Fine Arts Majors

Choose from the following areas of concentration: Animation & Game Art, Ceramics, Graphic Design, Illustration, Metalsmithing & Jewelry, Painting, Photography, Printmaking, Sculpture, Textiles & Fashion Design, and Woodworking & Furniture Design. Learn more

Minors

Minors are offered in the following subjects: Art + Entrepreneurship, Art History, Drawing, Public Engagement, Music, Sustainable Ecosystems: Art + Design, and Writing. Learn more

Master of Fine Arts (MFA)

MECA&D’s low-residency MFA Program in Studio Arts is one of the first of its kind in the nation. Each summer the MFA Program brings at least 8 nationally known artists to lecture and teach with its students during an interdisciplinary summer intensive. The MFA curriculum emphasizes the intersection of studio practice, individual research, and critical analysis. Learn more

Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT)

MECA&D’s 10-month program prepares artists to become effective art educators to creatively serve children and youth in PK-12 schools, museums, community-based, and alternative settings. Upon successful completion of the program, students are eligible for certification in Maine and all 50 states. Learn more

Salt Graduate Certificate in Documentary Studies

The Salt Graduate Certificate in Documentary Studies is a unique one-semester program focused on documentary storytelling. Students choose either one or two tracks in Radio, Short Film, Photography and Writing. Motivated individuals from all walks of life study in Salt’s intensive 15-week program. Learn more about the program.

Continuing Studies

Community members of all ages, backgrounds, and skill levels are invited to take advantage of the institution’s high-caliber faculty, professional studio classrooms, and intimate learning environment. MECA&D’s wide range of CS programming include: open studios, a winter intensive week, and classes in ceramics, digital arts, drawing, fibers and fashion, interior decorating, metalsmithing & jewelry, liberal arts, painting, photography, printmaking, professional development, sculpture, and more. Learn more.

Enrollment

BFA – 500; MFA – 43; MAT — 10, 68% out of state, 32% in state; 1500 Continuing Studies

Housing

Oak Street Residence Hall – Houses approximately 85 students in a combination of single and double rooms. The majority of rooms share a bathroom with one other room.
Shepley Street Residence Hall – Houses 60 students in suite-style accommodations. Each apartment includes a kitchen, living room, bathroom, and one or two shared bedrooms.
S+F Residence Hall – Houses approximately 40 upperclass and graduate students in a combination of single, double, or triple apartments. Each apartment has a bathroom, washer and dryer, and full kitchen equipped with a refrigerator, freezer, oven, stove, dishwasher, and sink. Apartments have both heat and AC adjustable per room. MECA&D shares the building with Portland community members.
Monument Square Residence Hall – Houses 60 upperclass and graduate students a more independent living community in either double or quad apartments and shares the building with Portland community offices. Each apartment has a bathroom, washer and dryer, and full kitchen equipped with a refrigerator, freezer, oven, stove, dishwasher, microwave, and sink. Apartments have both heat and AC adjustable per room.

Admissions

Requirements: A personal statement, official high school transcript or official scored report of the General Equivalency Diploma, official transcripts from each college or university attended if applicable, two letters of recommendation, and a portfolio of 15-20 pieces of recent artwork.

Clubs & Activities

Student involvement provides students with opportunities designed to promote individual growth, creativity and personal connections.

Clubs: Cycling Club, Fiber Arts Group, Futball Club, Gardening Club, Green Team, Maine Type Lab, MECA&D H.O.P.E (Helping Our People to Equality), Nontraditional Student Group, Running Club, Student Senate, and Theatrical Arts Group.

Activities are also held regularly in both the school and resident halls. From the Holiday Sale to the Yule Ball, there is never a dull moment at MECA&D. Learn More

Weather

Southern Maine has a moderate climate with average temperatures ranging from 22.3F (-5.4C) in January to 69.1F (20.6C) in July. Portland enjoys exceptional air quality and four distinct seasons from hot summers to snowy winters.

For More Information

Admissions Office, 522 Congress St, Portland, ME 04101, info@meca.edu; 800.699.1509.