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A Brief History

The Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center  opened in  November of 1995.  Since opening, the Cultural Arts Center has been host to plays, musicals, concerts, film series, children's festivals, dance recitals, business meetings, wedding receptions, art gallery showings and more!

The facility includes a 220 seat theater fully equipped with state of the art sound and lighting fixtures, three full dressing rooms, two art galleries, a multi-use community room with seating capacity between 70 - 90, and a functional catering kitchen.  In its first six years, over 190,000 people have attended events at the Cultural Arts Center.

Originally constructed as the Simi Community Methodist Church in the mid 1920's, this Gothic structure on Los Angeles Avenue and Church Street has served as a church, a funeral home, a Jewish Temple, a residence and even a temporary high school.  In August of 1991, the City of Simi Valley acquired the property for reuse as a Cultural Arts Center.  The Cultural Arts Center project included both the conversion of the building for cultural and community uses and restoration of the historical features of the existing building which was approved as Ventura County Historical Landmark No. 67 in July of 1981. 

On November 3 & 4, 1995 Broadway legend Rita Moreno opened the Cultural Arts Center with a gala evening of Rita Moreno in Concert.  Since then such renowned performers as musical theater legend Shirley Jones, classical guitarist Michael Chapdelaine, jazz flautist Sam Most, the Westlake Chamber Ensemble, rock-n-roll favorites Ronnie & The Classics, pianist Thomas Otten, and sitar virtuoso Aloke Das Gupta have filled the Center with all styles of music. Critically acclaimed plays and musicals have been presented by Soap Box Players, Buenaventura Theatre Group and the Santa Paula Theater Center.  Our galleries have featured such fine artists as watercolorist Bill Perkins, photojournalist Horace Bristol, oil painter Rose-Lynn Fisher, and photographer John Sparhawk Appleton.  Children have enjoyed productions from the ARTS Youth Ensemble, California Theater Center, Royal High School and Simi Valley High School, as well as art displays by such artists as children's book illustrator Mary Ann Fraser.  In addition, the Center hosts an annual youth arts festival featuring free classes in art, music, and drama. The Cultural Arts Center has become Ventura County's choice for family entertainment.

The Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center hosts performances almost every weekend, with the galleries being open to the public Sundays from 1:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. and by appointment Tuesday through Saturday.  Tickets for events generally range between $12 - $22 with discounts for seniors, students, children, and groups.  Admission to the gallery is always free of charge.  For program information or to make reservations, call the Box Office at (805) 583-7900.

Description of Facilities

The Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center facility houses three floors:  Lower Floor, Main Floor, and Mezzanine.  The Main floor includes the main lobby and concession area, the Main Gallery, and theater.

The Lower Floor provides a Multipurpose Room, the Lower Gallery and support areas for the Main Floor (including rest rooms, dressing rooms, and green room).  In addition, a catering kitchen is located on the lower floor to support activities in the multipurpose room such as meetings, seminars, weddings, etc.  The Multipurpose Room seats 70 - 90 for dining and up to 125 for other events.  The Box Office and Administrative Offices are also located on the Lower Floor.

A Multipurpose Facility

The Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center was designed as a multipurpose facility.  In addition to it being a theatre for artistic performance, the facility also is available for rental for meetings, seminars, concerts, conventions, trade shows, receptions, banquets, Bar Mitzvahs, weddings, holiday parties, and other private events.  To make an appointment concerning a possible rental or to receive a rental brochure, please call the Administrative Office at (805) 583-7905.

Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center Foundation

To facilitate the generation of private philanthropic support for the Center, the City Council initiated the formation of the Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center Foundation.  The Foundation is in the process of developing an endowment to provide community support for the Center.

The Foundation is a nonprofit tax exempt public benefit corporation organized for public and charitable purposes, specifically to develop, support, encourage and enhance presentation of the performing and visual arts, educational programs, and cultural activities within the City of Simi Valley.

The mission of the Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center Foundation is to raise funding for annual support and establish an endowment fund which will serve as a sustaining revenue source for the new Center.

Simi Valley Arts Commission

The City Council also created the Simi Valley Arts Commission for the purpose of overseeing the operations of the Center.  This Commission meets monthly to review the operations, promotion of and programming for the Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center.

How to Contact the Cultural Arts Center

The website address for the Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center is www.simi-arts.org.  For more information regarding rentals and availability, please call the Administrative Office at (805) 583-7905.  For a schedule of upcoming events or reservations, please call the Box Office at (805) 583-7900.  To send a fax, call (805) 583-7904.  The E-mail address is artscenter@simivalley.org. 

Thank you for your patronage and support of the Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center.