VALENCIA, Calif., FEB. 2, 2026 — California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) today announced the appointment of MaryClare Brzytwa as the inaugural Executive Director of the CHANEL Center for Artists and Technology (CCAT). Brzytwa brings more than 15 years of experience building and scaling interdisciplinary programs that bring together artistic practice, research, and emerging technology. She will lead the Center in its mission to position artists at the forefront of shaping technological innovation.

Brzytwa earned her MFA from CalArts before going on to hold senior leadership roles in arts education, creative entertainment technology, and the tech sector, including positions at Epic Games and Meta. A longtime educator, she taught music technology at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and founded the Technology and Applied Composition (TAC) program, developing the curriculum and interdisciplinary learning model, recruiting a world-class faculty of industry leaders, and overseeing the development of state-of-the-art facilities.

“MaryClare brings a rare trifecta of artistic depth, technological acumen, and strategic leadership experience,” said CalArts President Ravi Rajan. “Her track record of building ambitious, interdisciplinary research programs both in higher education and the tech industry makes her uniquely suited to build such a program for artists and technologists to work together at CalArts.”

The CHANEL Center for Artists and Technology, a partnership between CalArts and the CHANEL Culture Fund, provides artists opportunities to use technology to shape creativity across disciplines and to create and reimagine technology in envisioning a better world. CCAT will foster research, experimentation, and mentorship by connecting students, faculty, artists, and technologists. 

“As an artist, educator, and leader, I have spent my career advocating for environments where experimentation, curiosity, and rigorous collaboration can thrive. In our current era, abstract thinking, critical inquiry, and self-expression are foundational capacities for shaping what comes next,” said Brzytwa. “I am honored to lead this initiative where artists and technologists will work together with open-mindedness and focused intent, take real creative risks, and create serious work that expands what is possible, both culturally and technically.”

In addition to her leadership of research and teaching work, Brzytwa is an accomplished performer, composer, and recording artist with an international career. She has lectured at universities and conservatories around the world and has consulted with leading arts institutions on program strategy and creative technology initiatives.

In her role, she will guide the Center’s strategic direction, cultivate its public-facing presence, and strengthen connections between CalArts and a global network of artists, scientists, technologists, cultural and educational institutions, and technology industry partners.

About California Institute of the Arts

California Institute of the Arts 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 champions 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.

Extending a century of commitment to the arts, the CHANEL Culture Fund fosters a vibrant network of creators and innovators to advance the ideas that shape culture worldwide. Signature programmes include CHANEL’s Art Partners, institutions whose leaders are supported in the development of ground-breaking, multi-year initiatives that bring innovation to the cultural landscape. The CHANEL Next Prize celebrates artists and accelerates their future successes through access to resources and mentorship. The Window, a public art program in London, features artists working with emerging technology to develop original screen-based work. And the podcast CHANEL Connects amplifies the voices of thought-leaders across disciplines, generations, and geographies—tackling the defining issues of our time.

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Media Contact: Karolyn Pearson, 303-931-6381, Karolyn@rwjonesagency.com