Why CalArts?

Artistry meets authenticity

At CalArts, learning doesn’t stop once you step out of the classroom. 

Conceived by Walt Disney as a community of artists under one shared roof, the Institute has cemented its reputation as a creative hub delivering an arts education unlike any other. Far from just a place to study art rigorously, CalArts is a place where you’ll live art and continuously redefine it—where passion meets profession, where creativity knows no bounds, and where you can find your voice and shape the future of the arts. 

In addition to world-class technical instruction, we empower artists to journey into their creative depths and emerge with an honest and distinctive voice. This profound commitment to authentic artistic expression defines CalArts.

Read more about the CalArts way

Space to innovate 

Situated on a suburban campus in Valencia, California, the Institute’s main building is a sprawling five-level, 500,000-square-foot structure dedicated to experimentation and collaboration. With multiple theaters, galleries, labs, and dozens of studios, stages, and classrooms, you’ll find the space to chart a course for your artistic journey in the “alabaster labyrinth*” on the hill. 

*From CalArts’ alma mater, sung to the tune of The Mickey Mouse Club theme song.

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Rankings and outcomes

Our knack for unleashing creative potential sets us apart from other schools and conservatories, and the numerous artistic luminaries among our alumni are a testament to the Institute’s enduring legacy.

See the most recent Institute rankings on our news site 24700

See how CalArtians are making waves on 24700

Faculty mentorship

Mentorship is a cornerstone of CalArts’ pedagogy. As a student, you’ll have a dedicated faculty mentor with whom you will work closely throughout your academic and creative journey. Faculty mentors are all artists working and teaching in the same field as their mentees, offering invaluable connections and firsthand industry knowledge. 

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A stage for every voice

CalArts thrives on the diversity of its artistic community, which encompasses a vast range of forms, styles, and a broad spectrum of cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds and perspectives. With international students presently comprising 32% of the student body, global artistic exchange is part and parcel of the CalArts experience.

See CalArts by the numbers

#CalArtsMafia

Once a CalArtian, always a CalArtian. The ties between our alums are strong, with a multigenerational alumni network serving as an invaluable resource in post-graduate life.

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Inspiration sans boundaries

Beyond its campus, the Institute also encompasses the Roy and Edna Disney/CalArts Theater (REDCAT), an interdisciplinary contemporary arts center located within the Walt Disney Concert Hall complex in downtown Los Angeles, and the Community Arts Partnership (CAP), a co-curricular youth arts education program with community organizations and public schools throughout LA County.

CalArts and the Los Angeles arts scene 

The diverting and high-octane landscape of Los Angeles is just at our doorstep, granting students entry to a massive thriving arts scene with cutting-edge museums, galleries, and performance spaces. Students can establish professional connections, whether by attending exhibitions in LA, meeting with industry professionals, or participating in collaborative projects. Our advantageous location offers ample opportunities for CalArts students to cut their teeth in their respective creative industries—and to soak up the SoCal rays.

Read more about access to Los Angeles