California Institute of the Arts is renowned internationally as a game-changer in the education of professional artists. The transformative cultural impact of its alumni over the past half-century shows why: CalArts brings out creative talent unlike any other university, school or conservatory.

Founded by Walt Disney, CalArts offers comprehensive degree programs across the full range of the visual, performing, media and literary arts through its six Schools. Admissions are decided primarily on artistic merit and creative promise.

The CalArts learning experience stands apart from other schools as we are able to maintain an intimate, creative environment that prioritizes individual mentorship and guidance. Every student has a faculty mentor throughout their time at CalArts who advises them both academically and creatively and serves as a link to the professional industry. Since all our faculty are practicing professional artists in addition to educators, CalArts students have access to any number of talented artists and often build strong working relationships and connections. 

Walt Disney imagined CalArts as an all-inclusive community, where artists can look outside their own métiers and collaborate with each other, across conventional categories, to conjure new expressions. By breaking through artificial barriers, this ongoing exchange of ideas and methods opens up fresh perspectives, sparks out-of-the-box innovation, and energizes the creative community as a whole. For this reason CalArts has always thrived on the diversity of its artists—representing not only multiple forms and styles, but also the horizon-expanding mix of cultural and socio-economic backgrounds and voices.

Beyond its campus, the Institute also encompasses the Roy and Edna Disney/CalArts Theater (REDCAT), an arts presenting center in downtown L.A., and the Community Arts Partnership (CAP), a co-curricular youth arts education program with community organizations and public schools throughout L.A. County.