Contemporary Art Purchasing Program
The University of Maryland College Park Stamp Student Union has developed a Contemporary Arts Purchasing Program (CAPP) whose mission is to educate and inspire by exposing the campus community to thought-provoking art created by noted contemporary artists. Now in its twentieth year, the program provides a student committee the opportunity to interact with the art world by researching, discussing, and purchasing artwork by emerging and established contemporary artists. CAPP operates on a biannual basis. Students of diverse majors are selected to participate through a competitive application process. Together they embark on a rigorous research and training program, including extensive visits to galleries and artists’ studios in Baltimore, New York and Washington, DC.
CAPP Committee Application
Do you think art can change the world? Do you believe art can teach us more about our diverse society? Do you want a say in the kind of art STAMP collects and publicly displays?
The Contemporary Art Purchasing Program (CAPP) is an art acquisition program led by students for students – this is your chance to make your mark and learn how contemporary art reflects the world around us! Accepted applicants will embark on a rigorous research and training program, including extensive visits to galleries and artists’ studios in Baltimore, New York, and Washington, DC, and select artwork by emerging and established contemporary artists to purchase for STAMP's permanent art collection using a provided budget.
The Stamp Gallery will open applications for the 2028-2029 cycle in February 2028.
Required Program
Fall
- Enroll in ARTT489C: Advanced Special Topics in Art - Markets and Collecting (3 credits) [May satisfy 400-level and/or art theory elective requirement(s) for undergraduate Studio Art Majors and MFAs; may satisfy one of three "Supporting Area" courses required for Art History Majors with approval from Director of Undergraduate Studies; applicants in other disciplines should inquire with their program director about the course's applicability as a distribution requirement in their field.]
Attend weekly meetings held on Fridays from 3-5pm and conduct extensive independent research
Spring
- Enroll in a one-credit class to prepare for trips to DC, Baltimore, and New York City, where the committee visits galleries and artists' studios
- Participate in trips, gallery tours, and studio visits, including over spring break (March 17–19, 2027)
- Present acquisition recommendations to the CAPP Advisory Board, a panel of CAPP alumni, curators, collectors, and art historians
- Attend weekly meetings on Fridays from 3-5pm and conduct extensive independent research
Press About CAPP
- Callahan, Maura. "The Contemporary Art Purchasing Program Marks 20 Years of Student-Selected Art at UMD". BmoreArt. March 20, 2026. https://bmoreart.com/2026/03/the-contemporary-art-purchasing-program-marks-20-years-of-student-selected-art-at-umd.html
- Levin, Sala. “Through Art Purchasing Program, the Stamp’s Hallways Become a Museum”. Maryland Today. September 26, 2024. https://today.umd.edu/through-art-purchasing-program-the-stamps-hallways-become-a-museum
- Roser, Lilly and Hayden Smith. "UMD art purchasing program gives students hands-on curating experience." The Diamondback. December 11, 2023
- Brock, Rachel. "Our World Through Art in Stamp Gallery." The Diamondback. September 13, 2023
- DeCandia, Mel. "Art for the Students, By the Students in the Stamp Gallery." The Diamondback. May 4, 2016.
- Magness, Josh. "Artist Wafaa Bilal Looks to Continue the Conversation at Stamp." The Diamondback. April 6, 2016
- Farrell, Liam. "An Art Time Capsule: Stamp Displays a Decade of Student-Purchased Art." TERP. February 23, 2016
- Milad, Jackie. "Living with Art: The Contemporary Art Purchasing Program at College Park." Interview by Marnie Benney. Bmore Art. March 15, 2014
CAPP Committee Alumni
2024-2025
- Vivian Castrillo, Studio Art ‘26
- Raina Hatcher, Art History/Physics/Astronomy '26
- Noa Nelson, History/Art History '25
- Grace Orellana, Immersive Media Design '25
- Rachel Schmid-James, Art History and Classics '26
- Trinitee Tatum, Art History and American Studies '25
2022-2023
- Emily Boa, Communications ‘24
- Isabella Chilcoat, Art History ‘23
- Rachel (Rae) Leonberger, Art History/LGBTQ+ Studies ‘23
- Alicia Perkovich, Art History & History ‘23
- Raphael Ukpelegbu, Business Marketing ‘23
2020-2021
- Ty Roland-Reeves, Studio Art ‘22
- Emily Gilman, English ‘21
- Katherine Jackson, Art History ‘21
- Daniela Ruiz Perez, Geographical Sciences/Studio Art ‘21
2018–2019
- Jacky Cruz-Castillo, Studio Art/Art History '19
- Kari Gillman, Studio Art '19
- Rina Goldman, Studio Art/Theater '19
- Annie Jun, English '18
- Sydney Wess, Journalism/Art History '19
- Ruoyu Wu, Studio Art/Math '20
2016–2017
- Rachael Carruthers, History/Studio Art ‘17
- Grace DeWitt, Animal Science/Studio Art ‘17
- Nicolay (Nick) Duque-Robayo, Art History/Philosophy ‘18
- Kathleen Hubbard, Art History/Philosophy ‘17
- Damon King, Business ‘17
- Sarang Yeola, Physics/Economics ‘18
2014–2015
- James Boyle
- Zoe Copeman
- Melissa Rogers
- Lauren Jeyoon
- Korey Richardson
- Makeda Solomon
- Charlotte Zhang
2012–2013
- Nathalia Gabriel
- Zulekha Sayyed
- Jennifer Clifford
- Hanna Kelly
- Alexander McCormick
- Sarah Buchanan
2010–2011
- Michele Briley, Accounting '11
- Erin Kim, Communications and & Art History '11
- Mara Duvra, Art Studio & Psychology '11
- David Phelps, Theater & History '13
- Eldis Sula, English '11
2008–2009
- Sana Javed, Government and politics and Spanish Languages & Literature
- Ali Stuebner, Master of Historic Preservation
- Alison Reilly, Art History and French
- Megan Wickless, Art History
- Ophra Paul, Museum Studies
2006–2007
- Lindsay Smilow
- Dominique Ryan
- Dara Koppelman
- Rachel Kurinsky
- Emily Newton
- Fernando Ramirez