College Art Association

ABOUT WHAT IS THE COLLEGE ART ASSOCIATION? Founded in 1911, the College Art Association: - Promotes excellence in scholarship and teaching in the history and criticism of the visual arts and in creativity and technical skill in the teaching and practices of art - Facilitates the exchange of ideas and information among those interested in art and history of art - Advocates comprehensive and inclusive education in the visual arts - Speaks for the membership on issues affecting the visual arts and humanities - Provides publication of scholarship, criticism, and artists’ writings - Fosters career development and professional advancement. Identifies and develops sources of funding for the practice of art and for scholarship in the arts and humanities - Honors accomplishments of artists, art historians, and critics - Articulates and affirms the highest ethical standards in the conduct of the profession CAA includes among its members those who by vocation or avocation are concerned about and/or committed to the practice of art, teaching, and research of and about the visual arts and humanities. Over 12,000 artists, art historians, scholars, curators, critics, collectors, educators, publishers, and other professionals in the visual arts belong as individual members. Another 2,000 departments of art and art history in colleges and universities, art schools, museums, libraries, and professional and commercial organizations hold institutional memberships. CAA is governed by a twenty-two-person Board of Directors, most elected by the membership, who represent the diverse constituencies in the visual arts and geographic regions of the United States and beyond. Membership is open to all individuals with an interest in art, art history, or a related discipline, whether by vocation or avocation. CAA encourages the inclusion among its constituencies of qualified individuals representing a diversity of race, religion, gender, national origin, sexual preference, physical disability, and age in employment, education, exhibition, programmatic opportunities, and the awarding of grants and prizes in the public and private art sectors. The CAA administrative office is located in New York. MISSION STATEMENT CAA, as the preeminent international leadership organization in the visual arts, promotes these arts and their understanding through advocacy, intellectual engagement, and a commitment to the diversity of practices and practitioners. VALUES STATEMENT ON DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION CAA supports those who study, teach, write about, advocate for and/or create art and design. The Association honors human diversity and acknowledges the extraordinary range of backgrounds, cultures, perspectives, work styles, education, rank, skills, and experiences that make the advancement of art and design integral to culture. Of paramount importance to CAA is the promotion of equity and inclusion within the art and academic fields. As the Association strengthens and builds its programs, committees, staff, and boards, it aspires to foster an inclusive culture welcoming of visible and invisible differences, including but not limited to: age; ethnicity; gender; gender identity; language differences; nationality; parental status; physical, mental, and developmental abilities; race; religion; sexual orientation; skin color; socioeconomic status; and human styles. The Association defines inclusion as a collaborative work-in-progress. It encourages all CAA constituents to embrace and adopt the ongoing practice of inclusion while advancing art and design. VISION STATEMENT CAA advances the highest standards of instruction, knowledge and practice in the visual arts to stimulate intellectual curiosity and advance skills that enrich the individual and society. To realize this vision CAA will: 1. Represent, promote, and advocate for the visual arts nationally and internationally; 2. Create new opportunities for dialogue among members; 3. Explore new forms of communication using innovative and improved technology; 4. Address career development and workforce issues to assist professional growth; 5. Strengthen organizational leadership, membership, and financial support. VALUES STATEMENT Representing a diverse community of visual-arts professionals, CAA promotes: - Originality and excellence in the creation, interpretation, and teaching of visual arts; - Contributions to society by visual-arts professionals; - Exchange and dissemination of diverse artistic and scholarly viewpoints, nationally and internationally; - Support, collaboration, and advocacy for professionals in the fields of art, art history, design, and visual studies; - Ethical standards and practices in the visual arts.