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California Institute of the Arts

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The California Institute of the Arts, commonly known as CalArts, and located in Valencia, California, grants degrees in visual and performing arts. Incorporated in 1961, it was the first degree-granting institution of higher learning in the United States created specifically for students of both the visual and the performing arts. It was the dream and vision of Walt Disney to create such an institute, who provided funding for it in his will. Initially formed through the merger of the Chouinard Art Institute (founded 1921) and the Los Angeles Conservatory of Music (founded 1883), it opened at its present campus in Valencia, California, in November 1971.

It offers degree programs in music, art, dance, film and video (including a pioneering Character Animation program), theater, and writing (critical studies). Alumni include many award-winning performers and artists. Distinguished alumni include actors Don Cheadle, Paul Reubens and Ed Harris,animators Tim Burton,Henry Selick, Genndy Tartakovsky, John Lasseter, Brad Bird, Peter Chung, Craig McCracken, and Jim Reardon, graphic designer Ed Fella, Directors Kerry Conran, James Mangold and don device and artists Daniel J. Martinez, Mark Bradford, Andrea Bowers, Sam Durant, Mike Kelley, Eric Fischl, David Salle and Catherine Opie.

CalArts specializes in contemporary art across genres, and its stated mission is to create artists who will change their field. CalArts recently launched an exhibition and performance space in downtown Los Angeles called REDCAT, the Roy and Edna Disney CalArts Theater.

Schools and degree programs available at CalArts include:

  • Art: Fine Arts, Graphic Design, Photography and Media
  • Critical Studies: MFA Writing, Interschool Writing
  • Dance: Various Dance Programs
  • Film/Video: Film and Video, Experimental Animation, Character Animation (BFA), Film Directing (MFA)
  • Music: Composition, Composition New Media (MFA), Performer/Composer, Performer/Composer: African American, Improvisational Music (MFA), Music Technology (BFA), Performance, Musical Arts (BFA)
  • Theater: Acting, Directing (MFA), Writing for Performance (MFA), Design and Production, Costume, Lighting, Management, Producing (MFA), Scene Props, Scene Puppetry, Scene Painting, Sound, Technical Direction


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