Our MISSION STATEMENT: The Dorchester Center for the Arts is dedicated to enriching Maryland’s Eastern Shore community through high quality, engaging programming in the visual, literary, musical, and performing arts. As the designated County Arts Council for Dorchester County, the Dorchester Center for the Arts is committed to increasing access to the arts for all members of our community by supporting extensive outreach and educational opportunities in the arts.

Our VISION STATEMENT: The Dorchester Center for the Arts (DCA) is the community arts organization providing diverse programs, instruction, and support for all the arts in Dorchester County.

A non-profit organization, DCA is situated on Historic High Street in Cambridge where it offers a rotating schedule of curated and open-call exhibitions in our three continuous gallery spaces, arts classes and workshops in our dedicated studio spaces throughout the year, and an artisans’ gift shop featuring art, books and handmade wares by local and regional creators.

DCA is home for artists in all media and disiplines — drawing; painting, pottery, fiber arts, photography, carving, stained glass, music, theater, creative writing and more. Over 80 instructional arts classes for adults and children are taught each year at the Center. New and exciting classes are scheduled on a regular basis.

Through our Community Arts Grant program, DCA also allocates pass-through state funding for Art-in-Education programs at Dorchester county schools, municipalities, and other nonprofits. DCA also produces and presents the annual Dorchester Showcase, an outdoor arts and craft festival which draws over 6,000 people each year to Cambridge for fine art, handmade crafts, live music and Eastern Shore cuisine.

Over the past 20 years, DCA has redeveloped the historic Nathan Building at 321 High Street in Cambridge. The 17,000 square foot space hosts state-of-the-art classrooms, galleries, an artisans’ gift shop, performing arts spaces and a gorgeous reception area for special events.