History
In 1906, the year Pablo Picasso heralded the Cubism movement and automobiles made their first tentative trips through Detroit's streets, a group of local civic leaders founded the Society of Arts and Crafts. Inspired by the English Arts and Crafts movement, the Society dedicated itself to keeping the ideals of beauty and craftsmanship alive in an industrialized world—in their words, to "encourage good and beautiful work as applied to useful service." The Society offered informal classes in basic design, drawing and woodcarving beginning in 1911, and opened a gallery to display and sell work by students and eminent modern artists.
In 1926 the Society became one of the first Arts and Crafts organizations in America to offer an educational program in the arts. From its inception, the school sought outstanding faculty and brought in noted painters, sculptors and craftspeople from around the world. In 1933 the Society made national news by recognizing the automobile as an art form. Industrial design and commercial art were soon added to the school's curriculum.
Recognizing the need to be part of Detroit's Cultural Center, the school moved in 1958 to its current location. In 1962, when the Michigan Department of Education authorized the granting of a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Industrial Design, the school officially became a College.
The Detroit Society of Arts and Crafts changed its name to the Center for Creative Studies-College of Art and Design in 1975. The Kresge-Ford Building was completed the same year. In 1997 the Academic Resource Center was added to the campus, followed by a parking structure in 1999. In the fall of 2001, CCS inaugurated the new Walter B. Ford II Building, in addition to two renovated historic homes housing the administration and admissions offices. The Josephine F. Ford Sculpture Garden was added in fall of 2005, creating a central focus for the life of the school and a central gathering place for the CCS Community. Over the years, CCS student enrollment has grown with the campus: 1,300 students are now working toward B.F.A. degrees in 11 majors.
In July of 2001, CCS changed its name to the College for Creative Studies to better reflect what the College does – educate talented students to become artists, designers, and leaders in their fields. The new name also encapsulates the sweeping changes made in the past several years – new facilities, new technologies, new curricula and an expanded community focus – all of which have converged to create a virtually new CCS, proud of its tradition of innovation.
