The people in our neighborhood

Columbus is known as the “Indie Art Capital of the World” and for good reason…the city is saturated with artists, designers, crafters, and musicians, as well as galleries, museums, boutiques, festivals, and cultural events offering opportunities for creative young professionals.

CCAD students hoping to tap into this creative energy need to look no further than our own backyard. Adjacent to the CCAD campus is the Columbus Museum of Art (CMA), which boasts an outstanding collection of late nineteenth and early twentieth-century American and European art, ranging from Impressionism, German Expressionism, and Cubism, as well as celebrated regional collections. Recently they have launched a series of exhibitions inspired by CMA’s permanent collection including Renoir’s Women, Edgar Degas: The Last Landscapes, In Monet’s Garden, and (the one I am most excited about) the upcoming Toulouse-Lautrec and La Vie Modern: Paris 1880-1910, which will highlight the avant-garde scene in Paris in the early twentieth century.

CMA prides itself on collaborations with local organizations such as Ohio Arts Council, Franklin Park Conservatory, COSI, Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, CATCO is Kids, CAPA, Greater Columbus Arts Council, and more, which only further enhances the museum’s exhibitions and programming.

In addition to CMA, only three miles from CCAD is the Wexner Center for the Arts at Ohio State University. The Wex offers contemporary art exhibitions, film screenings, performances, artist residencies, and educational programs, as well as a killer library and a free outdoor summer movie series called the “Wex Drive In.”

For even more diversity, I recommend a stroll through the Short North Arts District. Many local neighborhoods boast a colorful and creative side, but the Short North is THE arts neighborhood, and hosts Gallery Hop every first Saturday of the month, which is a great time to get acquainted with the area’s galleries, boutiques, and restaurants. A few of my favorite spots include the Rivet Gallery for lowbrow and underground art, Roy G Biv nonprofit gallery for emerging artists, Tigertree boutique for their well curated collection of clothing and gifts, and Surly Girl Saloon for comfort food with a side of sass.

With such a rich mix of culture around town, this not only introduces CCAD students to a wide variety of inspiration, but also affords students with unique volunteer, internship, freelance, and networking opportunities.

Sara Wolff, CCAD's senior admissions officer for transfer students, enjoys walking in new cities, baking, tending to plants, and other domestic pursuits.