Valencia, Calif (March 30, 2021) California Institute of the Arts (CalArts), Newhall Crossings, and the city of Santa Clarita today announced an agreement to expand opportunities for CalArtians to share their art with the local community. CalArts will lease three ground floor retail spaces comprising roughly 6,000 square feet in the Newhall Crossing complex, located at 24450 & 24480 Main St. in Santa Clarita. The city of Santa Clarita, which has been home to CalArts for 50 years, has developed a flourishing arts scene and proactively moved to preserve the rich history of Newhall. The area has been transformed into the Santa Clarita Valley’s premier arts and entertainment district.
“We have been inspired to see CalArts students push through the restrictions the pandemic has put upon them and continue to make art. They entered the unknown and unexpected with their artistic practice and have created possibilities when others couldn’t easily see them,” said CalArts President Ravi Rajan. “Now our neighbors and friends have the opportunity to see and explore this work with a unique partnership between the city, CalArts and Newhall Crossings.”
Two key goals of the agreement are to provide artists with new exhibition spaces and to increase public access to art. The Newhall Crossings venue will include walk-by exhibitions and outdoor projections in the popular district and feature projects from the schools of Film/Video, Art and Dance. The project is set to go live in early April through the end of May.
The Santa Clarita City Council adopted the Old Town Newhall Specific Plan in 2005 with the goal to revitalize this unique part of the city. A mix of retail, restaurant, and entertainment as well as a new public library anchor this creative and vibrant space. In 2014 the city opened a business incubator to grow creative and technology focused businesses in the heart of this arts and entertainment district. In addition, the city specifically focused on the potential of the Old Town Newhall Arts and Entertainment District when creating the Arts Master Plan – a long-term roadmap for arts, entertainment and cultural development throughout the community.
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About CalArts
California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) has set the pace for educating professional artists since 1970. Offering rigorous undergraduate and graduate degree programs through six schools—Art, Critical Studies, Dance, Film/Video, Music, and Theater—CalArts has championed creative excellence, critical reflection, and the development of new forms and expressions. As successive generations of faculty and alumni have helped shape the landscape of contemporary arts, the Institute first envisioned by Walt Disney encompasses a vibrant, eclectic community with global reach, inviting experimentation, independent inquiry, and active collaboration and exchange among artists, artistic disciplines, and cultural traditions.
About Newhall Crossings
Completed in 2020, Newhall Crossings is a brand new mixed-use project located in the heart of Old Town Newhall. The ground level features 20,000 square feet of commercial space, which is now home to The Loaf Japanese Bakery and Café and Grit + Gratitude Pilates. Other upcoming retailers include XRO Fresh Churro Bar, The Glasshouse LA, C’est L’Amour Nails, Victory Public House, Rustic Burger House, Pops Artisanal Creamery, and Maginn’s Irish Pub. The Residences at Newhall Crossings offer 47 apartments in a variety of 1-bedroom, 2-bedroom, and 3-bedroom floor plans ranging from 918 to 1519 sq ft. Located at the corner of Main Street & Lyons Avenue, Newhall Crossings is conveniently located next to the seven-screen Laemmle Theatre and Old Town Newhall Parking Structure. www.NewhallCrossings.com.
About Santa Clarita’s Commitment to the Arts
The city of Santa Clarita has provided vital arts and cultural programming since its early years as a municipality. The Cowboy Festival began in 1994 and Concerts in the Parks before that time. A next phase of municipal cultural development took place following adoption of the city’s first cultural plan in 1998. A central recommendation of that plan was for the city to serve as the lead arts agency for the community. In line with that recommendation, the city created the Arts & Events Office in 2003 and formed the Arts Commission in 2009. The budget of the Arts & Events Office has grown to $2.2 million and programs have expanded in scope and scale to include new events, arts education, exhibitions, public art and grants. Santa Clarita values the ability to foster relationships with artists and organizations to introduce a wide variety of art to the community. Whether it is virtual or in-person, the city embraces diversity and opportunity for arts education, funding and development.