California Institute of the Arts

Established in 1961 by Walt and Roy Disney, California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) is the nation's first higher education institute to offer undergraduate and graduate degrees in both the visual and performing arts. CalArts is dedicated to training and nurturing the next generation of professional artists, fostering brilliance and innovation within the broadest context possible. Admission to CalArts is competitive and considered mainly on the basis of demonstrated talent, creativity and commitment. Other important considerations include educational records, recommendations and artist's statement. Located 30 miles north of Downtown Los Angeles in Valencia, California (in the City of Santa Clarita). The center of campus life is a sprawling five-level, 500,000-square-foot building—equivalent to 11 acres of square footage—which houses all six schools. REDCAT, the Roy and Edna Disney/CalArts Theater, is CalArts' downtown center for innovative visual, media and performing arts.