Visual & Performing Arts

The Visual and Performing Arts Division at Orange Coast College offers expert instruction for the serious art or design student, while simultaneously providing for students who want to enhance their artistic abilities. With courses ranging from ballet to figure drawing to photography to graphic design, students are bound to discover their own means of creative self-expression.

Contact Us

(714) 432-5629

occvpa@occ.cccd.edu

Office Hours

Mon to Fri, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sat & Sun, Closed

OCC Artist Promise

Get $1,000 for Choosing a Creative Major at OCC!

Are you into art, music, dance, design, photography, film, or theater?

When you apply to Orange Coast College and pick a major in the Visual & Performing Arts (VPA) Division, you can earn $1,000.

Here’s how to get your $1,000 VPA Student Award:

Apply to OCC.
Meet with a counselor to declare your major in one of these VPA programs:
- Art
- Dance
- Music
- Digital Media Art & Design (DMAD)
- Photography
- Theater Arts
- Film & Television, Immersive Media & Design
Take at least one class in your major during your first semester.
Apply for your first $500 award while you're enrolled in that class.
(You will get the second $500 after more progress in your major)

No separate scholarship application. No essay. Apply and choose a VPA major.

APPLY TO GET STARTED

OCC Endowment of the Arts

The OCC Endowment for the Arts supports students in the Visual and Performing Arts programs. The Endowment will provide scholarships for students continuing their education at OCC or transferring to other institutions. The endowment fund will also support creative projects, activities and events that benefit students in art, dance, digital media, film, music, photography, and theatre.

Should you have any questions, please contact us at go_vpa@occ.cccd.edu.

If you would like information regarding scholarships, please visit the Scholarship Office site.

If you are seeking funding for student-led activities and projects, please complete the online funding application.

Access Funding Application

Catch a live show at Orange Coast College

The arts are alive at OCC, and we're proud to bring our community the best in music, drama, dance, and visual arts at prices that are accessible to everyone. Come enjoy our talented students, top-notch faculty, and world-class guest artists.

Check out what's ahead and visit us at OCC Tickets to reserve your seats.

Learn More

3 image collage of woman doing ballet, a woman singing, and actors performing on stage.

Discover our Facilities for the Arts

Art Center

This state-of-the-art facility houses the Visual Arts Departments including Art, Digital Media Arts & Design, Film & Television, and Photography. The Art Center also houses the Visual and Performing Arts Division Offices and includes a gallery for students called the Student Project Space.

Frank M. Doyle Arts Pavilion

The Frank M. Doyle Arts Pavilion is an exemplary facility and ranks among the finest in the nation. Designed by architect Steven Ehrlich, the Doyle is OCC’s contemporary art space. Totaling over 7,000 square feet, the primary spaces consist of a large 2,855 square foot Main Gallery and a 1,318 square foot Project Gallery. Both spaces utilize natural lighting filtered through north-facing skylights, and integrate fully flexible gallery lights, allowing multiple lighting scenes.

Robert B. Moore Theatre

Our largest performing space is the Robert B. Moore Theatre. This beautiful, renovated theatre was designed by the world famous architect, Richard Neutra. It is a 916-seat theatre capable of full-scale Broadway-type shows, dance concerts, and symphony orchestras- home to many OCC Dance performances and Music performing ensembles.

The OCC Theatre Department produces over 30 exciting plays and muscials per year in two stages. Faculty-directed mainstage productions of dramas, comedies and musicals shine in the 160-seat Drama Lab Theatre, while the intimate 50-seat Drama Lab Studio is home to OCC's unique student-run theatre company The Rep.