A sad closing …

The closure of California College of Arts and Crafts was devastating news to read (KQED, Artnews, Hyperallergenic, and more). CCAC, which was my graduate alma mater, meant so much to me. I truly felt like I belonged. I met lifelong friends there, both students and professors. Many friends are adjuncts at CCA(C).

Looking back, the warning signs of the closure were there. Dropping “Crafts” from the name was the first shock. CCAC was named for the Arts and Crafts movement, not fine art versus craft. Removing it for marketing reasons felt absurd, like saying the American Revolution without American. It was a clear shift toward corporate thinking. Then the original Oakland campus was sold. Another loss. And now this.

It feels like the Bay Area is slowly dismantling its art schools, since SFAI was sold a few years ago. CCA(C) and SFAI aren’t just institutions—they’re communities of artists.