Category: Academic Resources and Related Programs

Henry Ford Academy: School for Creative Studies

Henry Ford Academy: School for Creative Studies is a charter middle and high school (grades 6 – 12) founded and operated by CCS and the Henry Ford Learning Institute. It has a strong art and design focus combined with an academic curriculum keyed to the Michigan Common Core standards. Its purpose is to give inner-city students the opportunity to pursue a path leading to an art and design college and ultimately to a career in the creative industries. It is located in the Taubman Center. CCS faculty and students, and particularly the Art Education department, play an active role at the school.

Community Outreach

Located in the heart of a complex urban region and possessing unique resources of value to that region, CCS recognizes a responsibility to serve the community of which it is a part. Thus, its mission includes not only collegiate education in art and design but community education as well. The goals of its community outreach activities include:

  • bringing the enrichment of art and design education to a wider population
  • illuminating the satisfying career opportunities available in the art and design fields
  • increasing the representation of minorities in the art and design professions
  • promoting economic and community development in Detroit and Southeastern Michigan

Community outreach occurs in many ways at CCS, through the activities of individual faculty members, through the academic departments, and through special projects and programs. These offices play key roles in outreach and comprise the Community Arts Division: Center Galleries (described above), Pre-College and Continuing Studies and Community Arts Partnerships.

Toyota Lecture Series

The Toyota Lecture Series in Design was established through a generous $1 million endowment gift to the College for Creative Studies from Toyota Motor Company. The endowment is used to bring prominent designers and scholars in all fields of design to speak at CCS. There are between six and eight Toyota Lectures that occur throughout the academic year. The Executive Assistant to the Provost manages the Series, including scheduling guest lecturers and special workshops. Ideas for lecturers are generated by the Chairs and their Departments when requested by the Executive Assistant to the Provost in February. The Speakers and Exhibitions Committee then reviews submissions and approves six-eight with two alternatives. The lecture schedule is determined by April end for the next academic year.

Woodward Lecture Series

The Woodward Lecture Series is supported by an endowed fund to bring three visiting artists to campus each semester. Visitors may be selected from the areas of Art Practice, Crafts, Photography, Illustration, Art History and Criticism, and History. The visitors are well established with national or international reputations. During each visit, there is a public lecture and an opportunity for students to interact with the visitor in a classroom or studio setting. The Director of Center Galleries manages the series in consultation with the faculty Speakers and Exhibitions Committee.

General Motors Auditorium

The General Motors Auditorium is located on the 11th floor of the Taubman Center within the Benson & Edith Ford Conference Center. It has over 5,800 square feet of space and can accommodate a variety of configurations for any type of event. An ideal location for conferences, lectures, parties, luncheons and award ceremonies, the auditorium can accommodate 450 guests with theater-style seating and 360 guests at banquet rounds. Immediately outside the auditorium is the Knight Gallery which serves as a prefunction area for auditorium events and also a site for exhibits, meetings and other smaller events.

Wendell W. Anderson, Jr. Auditorium

The Wendell W. Anderson, Jr. Auditorium is located on the ground floor of the Walter B. Ford II Building. This 250 person auditorium serves the entire college for internal events, classes and lectures as well as the college-sponsored events open to the public. It has two projectors and the capability for surround sound audio. The auditorium further provides the capability for HD projection, podium-based lectures, table lectures, or panel discussions.

The maintenance and technical support for the systems within the auditorium are provided by Audio Visual Services. Reservations for the auditorium are made through the Executive Office. Since certain events will override class presentation reservations, be sure to check before committing a reservation to a class schedule.

Knight Foundation Gallery

The Knight Foundation Gallery is located on the 11th floor of Taubman Center and is part of the Benson & Edith Ford Conference Center. It has 5,600 square feet of space designed for exhibition and other social events such as receptions, banquets, or seated presentations. This space can accommodate 200 guests for a sit-down dinner, 300 for a reception or 350 guests for theater-style seating.

U245 Gallery

The U245 Gallery is a student-managed space that offers CCS students the opportunity to showcase their creative achievements to the public. Located on the ground floor of the Art Centre Building, the gallery has easy access and good visibility from the campus.

The Chair of the Art Practice department or his/her designee serves as Faculty Advisor for U245 Gallery. The Chair appoints the gallery manager. When necessary, Exhibit Services may support installation of work.