Cathedral High School Performing Arts Center

Cathedral High School of Los Angeles (CHSLA) will use the NMTC financing to fund the completion of a new Performing Arts Center and Theater, expected to be completed in December 2018, as the main component of their Arts Matter Campaign. The campaign hopes to inspire participation and provide greater access to the Arts for their students and the community. Although CHSLA is an all-boys school, the Performing Arts Center will also provide opportunities for young women in the adjoining girl’s schools and serve students of both genders attending other elementary and high schools in the community.

Cathedral High School is located in one of the most economically and socially challenged neighborhoods in Los Angeles, educating underserved and disadvantaged high school age boys since 1925. CHSLA commonly graduates 100% of its seniors, of which 80% of are accepted to a four-year university. In comparison, high schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District on average graduate 80% of students, with only 26% receiving acceptance to four-year universities.

The Performing Arts Center will allow CHSLA to expand its educational curriculum with an emphasis on the fine arts, performing arts, and media production, designed to prepare students for opportunities in journalism, public relations, advertising, marketing, and multimedia content production.

In addition to the educational outcomes supported by the project, the Performing Arts Center will provide community residents with professional and career development opportunities and serve as a community resource center for other non-profit and impact agencies, regardless of religious affiliation.

The PAC will be spread across two adjoining buildings and includes classrooms, studio space, and a 350-seat theatre. The first floor of Building 1 is dedicated to musical instruction, restrooms, and electrical equipment. The second level of Building 1 houses the art room, television production facilities, theater arts instruction and general classroom space. Building 2 houses the 350-seat theater, the performance stage, scenery construction shop, dressing rooms, and other theater related offices.

Construction began in April 2017 and the shell is on budget to-date. The NMTC Financing will reimburse for expenditure in the past 24 months and funds will be used to complete construction and interior build-out and purchase program equipment.