522 Congress St
Portland, Maine 04101
United States
Hours: Monday–Sunday 7am–9pm
T +1 800 699 1509
info@meca.edu
Salt Graduate Certificate in Documentary Studies
Craft stories surrounded by other brilliant and curious radio and film makers at the Salt Institute for Documentary Studies at Maine College of Art in Portland, Maine. Learn the fundamentals of storytelling, develop the technical skills to create podcasts or short films, explore the ethics of documentary work, and practice the art of live storytelling.
Since 1973, the Salt Institute for Documentary Studies has taught students from all over the United States and around the world to become skilled documentarians and storytellers. Motivated individuals from all walks of life come to Salt to develop new skills and build expertise in documentary storytelling. Our faculty members are working documentarians and teaching professionals who help provide a strong foundation for students to make their best work.
The Graduate Salt experience is focused. We are looking for students who arrive ready to work and who understand the possibilities inherent in our 15-week residency format. We want students to bring their passion for documentary work to Salt to uncover their best storytelling skills, learn more about the field of documentary work, and be open to the new possibilities that the Salt program will present.
Salt Diversity Fellowship
As part of Salt ’s commitment to training the next generation of storytellers, we are pleased to offer the Salt Diversity Fellowship. We train documentarians to tell stories in ways that are equitable and inclusive. We also recognize that documentary has often reinforced the inequality present in our societies, rather than challenged it. As part of Salt’s mission, we are dedicated to transforming documentaries so that they reflect and amplify a diversity of experiences, identities, and voices. Ideal applicants produce work that reinforces these core values. More information about the fellowship can be found here.
Salt graduates
Since 1973, hundreds of documentarians have gotten their start at Salt. Graduates include radio luminaries such as Sam Greenspan (99% Invisible), Zoe Chace (This American Life), Phoebe Judge (Criminal), Kalila Holt (Heavyweight), and Chloe Prasinos (Marvel’s Wolverine).
Current/recent faculty + visiting documentarians include:
Isaac Kestenbaum, Katie Shepherd, Erin Eileen Murphy, Colin Cheney, Ashley Cleek, Peter Lang-Stanton, Annie Aviles, Yoon Byun, Thi Bui, Jaed Coffin, Leila Day, Galen Koch, Andrea de Leon, Mira Ptacin, RaMell Ross and Sharon Shattuck.
Salt Story Archive
Since 1973, the students of the Salt Institute for Documentary Studies have captured the spirit of the culture, people, and landscapes of the world around us. The collective of our multimedia stories is now available online at saltstoryarchive.com.
Salt studies workshops and crash courses
Salt offers a variety of short, professional development opportunities for existing podcasters, film-makers, and storytellers, or for those who are preparing their portfolio for the full Salt Graduate Certificate experience. This May, we are offering an 8-credit hybrid course in Long-form Podcast Storytelling with award-winning storyteller and Salt alum, Nora Saks, in addition to a variety of courses in deviant storytelling, game-design-based storytelling, archival film editing, and so much more. Check out our listings at cs.meca.edu.
For more information about the program, watch the recording of our online info session here.
