Play, Gather, Adventure, Exhibit
We play as hard as we work with beach field trips, all-school breakfasts and parties, spontaneous ping pong games, monthly First Thursday art receptions, and daily afternoon tea in the print studio. Students organize exhibitions, performances, and pop-up shops.
Surround yourself with art and design
A student once said that what she loved about PNCA is that it is "dripping with art." Student art is installed in galleries, critique spaces, classrooms, offices, hallways, stairwells, and elevators. And our Center for Contemporary Art & Culture presents exhibitions by internationally-recognized contemporary artists including Cauleen Smith, Bruce Naumann, James Rosenquist, Wangechi Mutu, and many more. We host exhibitions and events as part of the Portland Institute for Contemporary Art's Time-Based Art (TBA) Festival. And we host events for Design Week Portland and AIGA.
We value, respect, and appreciate difference
As a learning community, we value, respect, and appreciate difference—in gender, sexual orientation, religion, race, ethnicity, national origin, disability, class, and age. We strive to create a safe and supportive environment that is enriched by variety in voices, work, and perspectives. We know that we are a better community of learners and educators when we have space for a multiplicity of worldviews and experience. Our Equity Council, open to all, meets regularly throughout the school year.
Activities
Student Life organizes events, field trips, and workshops. And students run a range of clubs from Electronic Music Club and Wilderness Adventure to Blacksmithing Club.
Events
We host more than 700 free public events each year, bringing important lecturers, panels, projects, and exhibitions to campus.
Exhibitions
PNCA's Center for Contemporary Art & Culture presents exhibitions by internationally recognized artists on campus year-round.
Portland
Portland has long been a magnet for designers, musicians, artists, and writers. It’s a great place to live with stellar food, culture, urban parks, and both the Pacific Ocean and Mt. Hood within daytrip distance.
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Campus and Facilities
PNCA is located downtown in a neighborhood that is home to most of the city’s art galleries and a concentration of design studios. PNCA’s Glass houses additional studios and fabrication labs for ceramics, wood, and metal.
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Student Housing
PNCA’s Residence Life program provides a supportive and vibrant environment that facilitates creativity and collaboration. We educate students through in-house social and academic activities as well as events that connect students to the life, culture, and arts of Portland.
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Come tour PNCA today!
Come explore and experience how PNCA is dedicated to empowering students to reimagine what art and design can do in the world.
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