The Shared Arts Center
The Shared Arts Center of San José is officially open – the first half of a bold, two-phase vision to build a permanent, collaborative home for our region’s creative community. For years, arts organizations across Santa Clara County have faced rising rents, unstable leases, and a shortage of purpose-built space. With the completion of our first building, we’ve achieved the goals of our “Build a Home” campaign and created an affordable, stable place where artists and organizations can create, teach, rehearse, and thrive.
Starting Arts transformed a vacant downtown building into a vibrant cultural hub. Our anchor partners – Silicon Valley Shakespeare, ArtHouse Studio Los Lupeños de San José, and South Bay Guitar Society – now fill the Center with year round programming that reflects the cultural vibrancy of our community. Additional partners, members, and renters expand this ecosystem even further, bringing a rich mix of artistic voices under one roof.
But the Shared Arts center is a two-building vision – and we are now stepping into Phase 2.
Phase 2: Build a Dream- Completing the Shared Arts Center.
The second building of the Shared Arts Center campus will become a flexible Black Box Theatre – the performance and creative engine that completes the center. This intimate, adaptable venue will give artists the space they need to develop new work, rehearse, experiment, and perform. It will welcome audiences for performances, rehearsals, workshops, and community gatherings, creating a fully realized home for creativity in Downtown San José.
Together, these two phases will realize the full vision of the Shared Arts Center: a permanent, affordable, and collaborative cultural anchor for San José and Santa Clara County. Your support will help complete this creative home and foster a more connected, vibrant, and culturally thriving community for generations to come.
Our Mission
Founded in 2000, Starting Arts (SA) is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit arts education organization with a mission to make the arts accessible to all students in the Bay Area. We focus on supporting under-served youth in Title 1 schools, providing instruction in dance, theatre, music and visual arts with programs taught by professional artists.
As stewards of the Shared Arts Center of San Jose Capital Campaign, we advance our mission to expand our visual and performing arts programs and those of partnering arts organizations in San Jose and communities across Santa Clara County. Our journey in elevating the arts continues!
Starting Arts Programs and Services
School Programs
Learn more about our dance, music, theater, and visual arts programs — before, during, and after school!
SA Studios
Advance your skills with classes, workshops, productions, and musical theatre training in our studios.
Studio Productions
Our Studio Production season starts in November! This season gives us beloved Disney characters, a chance for our youngest performers to take the stage, and a family that’s creepy and kooky! With humor and heart, and so many opportunities for performers of all ages to shine, we’re excited about this line up and hope you are, too!
Volunteer Opportunities
Looking for a way to support the arts in your community? Volunteer at Starting Arts! Volunteer opportunities throughout the year may include costume assistance, painting/building, loading in or loading out sets for bigger productions, event/fundraiser help, and more!