California Institute of the Arts

California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) is a private nonprofit arts university in Valencia (Santa Clarita), California. Founded with support from Walt and Roy Disney and other arts leaders, it brought together professional schools of art, music, theater, film, dance, and writing under one roof and is widely known for rigorous conservatory-style training across the visual and performing arts. CalArts offers undergraduate and graduate degrees through schools including Art, Critical Studies, Dance, Film/Video, Music, and Theater. It is especially noted for animation, experimental film, contemporary music, and interdisciplinary practice, with a strong emphasis on studio work, collaboration, and artist-led pedagogy rather than a traditional research-university model. The Valencia campus houses performance venues, galleries, production studios, and student housing in a suburban Southern California setting. The institute remains a selective destination for artists seeking intensive creative study and professional preparation.