ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½, CA — While Cal Poly ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ is recognized for its excellence in STEM fields, it has a rich history in creative expression, thought, and writing. Cal Poly ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½’s commitment to creativity spans faculty empowerment, interdisciplinary initiatives and centers, investments in performance spaces, and exceptional resources, including its designation as an official Steinway School for Music. Through a remarkable lineup of renowned programs and partnerships, the College of Letters, Arts, and Social Sciences (CLASS) and the College of Environmental Design (ENV) have been steadily establishing the campus as one of Southern California’s most dynamic hubs for arts education and cultural engagement—a destination for artistic innovation, professional development, and creative collaboration.
Become by Doing: Where Creative Practice Meets Professional Preparation
This spring, CLASS is hosting a series of events that span the entire spectrum of creative disciplines—from classical theatre to journalism, from world-class music education to professional voice and speech training. Each initiative embodies Cal Poly ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½’s “Become by Doing” philosophy, bringing together students, industry professionals, and young artists in ways that blur the traditional boundaries between education and professional practice.
True to the university’s hands-on learning approach, these programs don’t just lecture about the arts—they immerse students directly in professional environments, preparing them for industry careers through real-world collaboration and mentorship. This is exemplified not only in CLASS, where the performing arts find their home, but also within the College of Environmental Design (ENV), which continues to cultivate and champion designers and visual artists. Whether building a show from concept to staging, developing a piece from sketch to exhibition, or refining a draft for publication, students are trained and exposed to every stage of the creative process, gaining invaluable experience that prepares them for the industry upon graduation.
“We’re building a creative hub where exciting things don’t just happen—they thrive,” explains CLASS Dean, Camille Johnson. “Our campus is becoming a place where high school students discover their artistic voices, college students work alongside professional mentors, and practitioners train and develop the next generation of artists and creative professionals.”
California’s Creative Future Finds a New Home
In what may be the most significant recognition of Cal Poly ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½’s growing arts reputation, the campus will be the new host site to the prestigious California State Summer School for the Arts (CSSSA) program beginning July 2026.
Established by the California Legislature in 1985, CSSSA conducted a highly competitive RFP process that drew proposals from outstanding public and private college campuses across the state. CPP’s selection reflects its unique position as the nation’s most diverse polytechnic institute and its strategic location providing access to Southern California’s creative industries.
The partnership between CLASS and ENV has enabled CSSSA to expand their program offerings to include Architecture and Environmental Design. This new collaboration marks a transformative moment for Cal Poly ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ and CSSSA. The campus’s location also brings CSSSA closer to San Bernardino and Riverside counties, historically underrepresented communities in past CSSSA sessions.
“Partnering with Cal Poly ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ offers a new and exciting perspective for CSSSA,” says Donna Casey, CSSSA co-founder and current Board member. “The polytechnic approach aligns closely with CSSSA’s mission and California's creative industry workforce needs, fostering the interdisciplinary mindset and innovative problem-solving abilities demanded by the state’s rapidly evolving cultural and creative sectors.”
Shakespeare Takes Center Stage
Each April, Cal Poly ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½’s campus becomes a stage for the John A. Lesser Invitational High School Shakespeare Festival, a tradition established in 1974 by Professor Lillian Wilds and grounded in her belief that Shakespeare is best understood through performance. Hosted by the Department of English and Modern Languages, the festival welcomes high school students from across the region to present monologues and ensemble scenes in a university performance setting. Over the decades, thousands of young artists, educators, and families have gathered at CPP, transforming the campus into a space where literary study moves beyond the page and into lived experience.
While rooted in English scholarship, the festival unfolds within the professional performance spaces of the Department of Theatre and New Dance, where staging, voice, and movement elevate the work from interpretation to embodiment. The result is a natural convergence of literary analysis and theatrical craft. It is an experience that reflects the interconnected creative community within CLASS. For many participants, the day offers an early glimpse into a campus where text and performance inform one another, and where students are invited to imagine their own place within that dynamic exchange.
Where Voices Unite
This October, CPP will host the 2026 Voice and Speech Trainers Association (VASTA) conference, bringing together an international community of voice and speech professionals. VASTA’s mission emphasizes community, connection, collaboration, access, repair, and sustainability—values that align with CLASS’s commitment to inclusive excellence.
The conference represents another milestone in CLASS’s emergence as a convener of professional communities, providing students with access to leading practitioners while showcasing CPP’s facilities and faculty expertise. For CLASS students, it’s an opportunity to learn directly from industry leaders and build professional networks.
Nurturing Tomorrow’s Storytellers
In February, the Communication Department will co-host the Journalism Education Association’s regional Write Off competition, welcoming 70-100 high school students from approximately 8-10 schools across the region. Students involved in media, photography, yearbook, and journalism will compete in various categories while Communication faculty and students share their expertise through workshops and campus tours.
The initiative exemplifies CLASS’s commitment to building pipelines of creative talent and demonstrating that professional journalism education thrives at CPP. It’s also a chance for Communication students to practice the mentorship and leadership skills essential to industry careers.
A Festival of Musical Excellence
This year, the Music Department launches its inaugural edition of Festival of Winds, which showcases CLASS’s music program, bringing together outstanding high school and community college musicians from across Southern California for two immersive days of rehearsals, masterclasses, and artistic growth for students considering Cal Poly ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ for higher education in music. The event culminates in a finale concert uniting both ensembles with the CPP Wind Ensemble—an inspiring celebration of artistry, musicianship, and shared musical experiences.
The festival also includes a conducting workshop for band directors, positioning CPP as an educational resource for music educators across the region and demonstrating the hands-on, practical training approach that prepares students for professional success.
A Creative Community Where It All Comes Together
What makes this moment extraordinary isn’t just the individual prestige of each program—it’s the cumulative effect of CLASS establishing Cal Poly ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ as a place where creative communities converge, where professional practice meets rigorous education, and where the next generation of artists, journalists, musicians, and performers discover what’s possible.
From high school students competing in journalism contests to professional actors performing Shakespeare, from young musicians working with renowned conductors to voice professionals advancing their field, CLASS is cultivating an ecosystem where creativity isn’t just celebrated—it’s developed through hands-on experience, challenged through professional collaboration, and elevated through the “Become by Doing” philosophy that prepares students for thriving industry careers.
The message is clear: Cal Poly ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ isn’t just a STEM campus with an arts program. It’s a creative community where exciting things happen every day, where students work alongside professionals, and where the boundaries between learning and doing disappear entirely.
For more information about programs and events at the College of Letters, Arts, and Social Sciences, visit the CLASS website or contact the college directly.