The Community Arts Convening and Research Project is funded by the Nathan Cummings Foundation (NCF) and sponsored by Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA). It is guided by the vision that community-grounded arts and culture enhance the well-being, development, empowerment, and voice of under-resourced communities. The third Community Arts Convening was held at MICA, March 13-15, 2011.

The Project provides a platform for college and university faculty and students; community-based practitioners; and community scholars, leaders, and youth to meet and generate new ideas; share resources and models for best practices in the field; reflect new curricula and pedagogy; define and solve problems; develop action plans; identify and conduct new research; develop leadership in the field, and cultivate new partnerships.