RESIDENTIAL CREATIVE COMMUNITY
City Heights is home to the CAM Residential Creative Community (RCC), a special residential experience for College
of Arts & Media (CAM)
students to live in a supportive environment of artists, filmmakers,
musicians, and scholars.
CAM RCC members have distinct academic and co-curricular
experiences to connect with the arts and creative industries. The CAM RCC
communal spaces are designed and equipped to foster making, creativity,
and collaboration amongst peers and classmates. Students may opt-in to participate in the RCC.
Learn More About the CAM RCC
The Residential Creative Community is a way for CAM freshmen to connect with other CAM students, faculty, and staff on campus. Any CAM freshmen who will be staying at the City Heights Residence Hall can opt-in to being a part of the CAM RCC. Here what students in the RCC receive:
- A CAM RCC roommate - Choosing to join the RCC means that you will be placed with another CAM student.
- A monthly RCC meeting and RCC community dinner. CAM faculty and staff will attend the meetings and community dinners to present about their areas and the college.
- Socializing and networking with other RCC students.
- A CAM faculty mentor
- A monthly CAM RCC newsletter highlighting arts events on and near campus.
- The opportunity to participate in an UNIV 1110 class for first semester CAM students. This class prepares students for college success.
- RCC members will have the opportunity to be a part of the RCC Leadership Group; these students serve as the voice for all RCC students.
How to Apply to the CAM RCC for Fall 2023
Incoming CAM Freshman for Fall 2023 should first accept your CU Denver admission in your application portal. They can then apply to CU Denver Housing and incate that they want to live in the City Heights Residence Hall. Please note that you can't request to be in the RCC on the Housing Application. We'll reach out to you later to see you want to opt-in to the RCC.
In April 2023, the Housing Office will provide CAM a list of CAM incoming Fall 2023 students who have submitted a CIty Heights Housing Application. We will then reach out to these students to see if they'd like to join the CAM RCC. There will be a short RCC application for the student to fill out. Anyone who completes the application is admitted to the RCC. Be sure to check your email regularly for information from CU Denver Housing & Dining Services and the College of Arts & Media.
The First-Year Experience
First-Year Experience (FYE) courses are designed to ease students transition to university life and guide them into this world of social, academic, and professional possibilities. Members of CAM RCC are strongly encouraged to register for one of the CAM UNIV 1110 classes. The CAM UNIV 1100 courses are tailored to the unique experience of art, film, and music students. The CAM-UNIV is a required, one-credit course for all RCC members. This is a tuition free first semester course!
RCC Faculty Mentors
Each RCC student will be matched with a College of Arts & Media Faculty Mentor! The 2022-23 faculty mentors are listed below.
Melissa Furness
Professor
- Visual Arts (CAM)
Melissa Furness’ work has been most influenced by her experiences of travel, which have included artist’s residencies around the world, including those with Jentel, Yaddo, the Laznia Center of Contemporary Art in Poland, Shankill Castle in Ireland, Red Gate Gallery in Beijing, the Hungarian Multicultural Center near Budapest; and Kala Art Institute. Furness was invited to exhibit work at the 2016 Kochi-Muziris Biennial in Kerala, India through A.I.R. Gallery of New York. She was awarded a fellowship to participate in the 2015 Biennial of the Americans, through which she resided in Mexico City as an Art Ambassador. She is an active member of the Artnauts Collective, through which she exhibits works in places of contention throughout the world. She has been a member of A.I.R. Gallery in Brooklyn and is currently with Pink Progression in Denver through which she exhibits works that address feminist and gender issues. Furness’ work has been represented by galleries in New York, Seattle, Palm Springs and Zurich leading up to her current representation with K Contemporary Art in Denver. She has been featured in numerous exhibitions and international art fairs in Seoul, Zurich, Cologne, Los Angeles, Seattle, and Aspen. Her work has been featured in New American Paintings, Studio Visit Magazine, SeeAllThis Magazine, Klassik Magazine International, 303 Magazine and others. Furness received her MFA in Painting and Drawing and is currently Professor of Art Practices and Illustration.
Areas of Expertise
Painting and Drawing
Sculpture and Printmaking
Education, Licensure & Certifications
University of Iowa
MFA; Painting and Drawing
MA; Sculpture and Printmaking
Coe College
BA, Art and English Literature
Affiliations
K Contemporary Art
Artnauts Collective
Pink Progression
The RCC CAM Staff
Melissa Furness
Professor
- Visual Arts (CAM)
Melissa Furness’ work has been most influenced by her experiences of travel, which have included artist’s residencies around the world, including those with Jentel, Yaddo, the Laznia Center of Contemporary Art in Poland, Shankill Castle in Ireland, Red Gate Gallery in Beijing, the Hungarian Multicultural Center near Budapest; and Kala Art Institute. Furness was invited to exhibit work at the 2016 Kochi-Muziris Biennial in Kerala, India through A.I.R. Gallery of New York. She was awarded a fellowship to participate in the 2015 Biennial of the Americans, through which she resided in Mexico City as an Art Ambassador. She is an active member of the Artnauts Collective, through which she exhibits works in places of contention throughout the world. She has been a member of A.I.R. Gallery in Brooklyn and is currently with Pink Progression in Denver through which she exhibits works that address feminist and gender issues. Furness’ work has been represented by galleries in New York, Seattle, Palm Springs and Zurich leading up to her current representation with K Contemporary Art in Denver. She has been featured in numerous exhibitions and international art fairs in Seoul, Zurich, Cologne, Los Angeles, Seattle, and Aspen. Her work has been featured in New American Paintings, Studio Visit Magazine, SeeAllThis Magazine, Klassik Magazine International, 303 Magazine and others. Furness received her MFA in Painting and Drawing and is currently Professor of Art Practices and Illustration.
Areas of Expertise
Painting and Drawing
Sculpture and Printmaking
Education, Licensure & Certifications
University of Iowa
MFA; Painting and Drawing
MA; Sculpture and Printmaking
Coe College
BA, Art and English Literature
Affiliations
K Contemporary Art
Artnauts Collective
Pink Progression