Through artist residencies Cal Poly Arts enriches the academic experiences of Cal Poly students, extending the impact of our artists beyond what transpires on the stage. While on campus, many Cal Poly Arts artists will engage in master classes, lecture/demonstrations, workshops, and co-creation experiences with students in partnership with academic departments and faculty. Activities will explore the creative process and inspiration, artistic technique and expression, as well as the socio-political contexts in which art is created. These experiences will be accessible to students of diverse majors across campus.

Cal Poly Arts believes the arts should not be reserved for the privileged few in our county, but rather, available and accessible to everyone. With this notion in mind, Cal Poly Arts has created the Passport to the Arts program, providing free or deeply subsidized access to performing arts experiences on the Central Coast to low-income and/or marginalized communities who have not historically had access to high-quality, live, artistic programming. 

Passport to the Arts provides: 

• A “passport” to select, public, ticketed Cal Poly Arts events for low-income residents (in partnership with the Housing Authority San Luis Obispo and other community nonprofits) to attend free-of-cost, with additional pre- and post-event activities (meet and greets with artists, exclusive receptions, creative workshops, etc.)  to create a welcoming experience
• Free performing arts workshops to the community both on and off Cal Poly’s campus
• Subsidized student ticket prices for Cal Poly Students or anyone with a student ID in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties
• Artist residency activities on location in underrepresented communities at no cost to the participants, while also removing any transportation barrier

Poly Arts for Youth (PAFY) is Cal Poly Arts’ education enrichment program for K-12 students. Our world-class touring artists engage directly with children in their own schools allowing for rich cultural and artistic workshop experiences that extend the performing arts beyond the stage. PAFY is vital because students who have access to arts education have better grade point averages, score better on standardized tests in reading and math and have lower dropout rates. 

During the 2024-25 Cal Poly Arts Season, PAFY held 10 in-person workshops impacting over 2,300 students! 

Are you a K-12 Educator in the San Luis Obispo or Northern Santa Barbara County? 

Do you think your students would benefit from a professional artist coming to your classroom?

Visit www.calpolyarts.org/pafy for current programming and information on how to get involved.