California State Summer School for the Arts

California State Summer School for the Arts is a prestigious summer school program that provides intensive training in the arts to high school students from California, United States. The program is hosted by the California State University system and is supported by the California Arts Council, National Endowment for the Arts, and Getty Foundation. The school's mission is to provide a rigorous and immersive arts education to talented students, preparing them for careers in the arts and beyond, with notable alumni going on to attend institutions like Juilliard School, Tisch School of the Arts, and California Institute of the Arts.

● History

The California State Summer School for the Arts was established in 1987 by the California Legislature and is modeled after the New York State Summer School of the Arts and Governor's School of the Arts. The program has been hosted by various California State University campuses, including California State University, Long Beach, California State University, Los Angeles, and California State University, Northridge. The school has a long history of providing arts education to students from diverse backgrounds, with many alumni going on to successful careers in the arts, including Hollywood, Broadway, and Lincoln Center. Notable instructors have included Mark Isham, Quincy Jones, and Herbie Hancock, who have taught alongside faculty from University of California, Los Angeles and University of Southern California.

● Admissions

Admission to the California State Summer School for the Arts is highly competitive, with applicants from all over California vying for a limited number of spots. The application process typically begins in the fall, with students submitting portfolios, auditions, or writing samples, depending on their area of focus, which may include dance, theater, music, visual arts, or creative writing. A panel of judges, including California State University faculty and industry professionals from Warner Bros., Disney, and Sony Pictures, reviews the applications and selects the most talented students for the program. Students who are accepted into the program receive a full scholarship, covering tuition, room, and board, thanks to the support of organizations like the Los Angeles County Arts Commission and San Francisco Arts Commission.

● Curriculum

The curriculum at the California State Summer School for the Arts is designed to provide students with an intensive and immersive arts education. The program offers courses in a variety of disciplines, including dance with instructors from Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and American Ballet Theatre, theater with guest artists from Steppenwolf Theatre Company and Public Theater, music with faculty from Berkeley School of Music and University of the Arts, visual arts with instructors from California College of the Arts and Otis College of Art and Design, and creative writing with authors from University of California, Irvine and University of California, Riverside. Students also have the opportunity to attend masterclasses and workshops with industry professionals from Netflix, Apple, and Google, and to showcase their work in a final exhibition or performance, which may be held at venues like the Hollywood Bowl, Greek Theatre, or Warner Grand Theatre.

● Notable_Alumni

The California State Summer School for the Arts has a long list of notable alumni, including Katherine Heigl, James Franco, and Zooey Deschanel, who have gone on to successful careers in film and television with studios like Universal Pictures, Paramount Pictures, and 20th Century Studios. Other notable alumni include Josh Groban, who has performed with the Los Angeles Philharmonic and New York Philharmonic, and Becky G, who has worked with Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg. Many alumni have also gone on to attend prestigious arts institutions like Juilliard School, Tisch School of the Arts, and California Institute of the Arts, and have won awards like the Grammy Award, Tony Award, and Academy Award.

● Campus_Life

The California State Summer School for the Arts is typically held on the campus of a California State University, with students living in dormitories and attending classes and workshops in state-of-the-art facilities, including the Valencia Campus of California Institute of the Arts. The program offers a range of extracurricular activities, including concerts, performances, and exhibitions, which may be held at venues like the Broad Stage or Royce Hall. Students also have the opportunity to attend lectures and masterclasses with industry professionals from YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram, and to participate in community outreach programs, such as teaching arts classes to local students from Los Angeles Unified School District and San Francisco Unified School District.

● Programs_and_Partnerships

The California State Summer School for the Arts has partnerships with a number of organizations, including the California Arts Council, National Endowment for the Arts, and Getty Foundation, which provide funding and support for the program. The school also has partnerships with a number of arts institutions, including the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, and de Young Museum, which provide students with access to world-class facilities and resources. The program also offers a range of special programs and initiatives, including the California State Summer School for the Arts Foundation, which provides scholarships and support to students, and the California State Summer School for the Arts Alumni Association, which connects alumni with each other and with the broader arts community, including organizations like the Screen Actors Guild and Writers Guild of America.