Modesto Junior College Performing and Media Arts Center

- 5808, 435 College Ave, Modesto, CA 95350

The Modesto Junior College (MJC) Performing and Media Arts Center stands as a crown jewel of both education and culture in California’s Central Valley. While Modesto Junior College itself is a highly respected public community college, serving the Modesto and surrounding communities for over a century, the Performing and Media Arts Center is a state-of-the-art facility dedicated to nurturing talent and providing the public with high-quality artistic experiences.

The Center is a key component of the college’s School of Arts, Performance & the Humanities, offering students immersive, practical instruction in fields ranging from Theatre and Dance to Film, Television, and Electronic Media. It provides a professional-level setting for student performances, community concerts, and academic instruction, fostering creativity and technical expertise among the next generation of California artists and media professionals.

For community members, the venue is celebrated for its exceptional quality. Patrons have consistently praised the space, noting the "Very nice theater," "Comfortable seating," and the ideal climate control. Crucially, the facility's design ensures a superior audience experience, with acoustics that are described as "very good and distributed equally around the entire theater." Beyond the performances, the Center maintains a high standard of public amenity, with "Restrooms were clean and well stocked. Very clean theater" overall. This combination of top-tier facilities and a robust educational mission firmly establishes the Center as a major cultural asset in Modesto.

It is important to understand the broader context of Modesto Junior College itself. While the Performing Arts Center focuses on the arts, MJC is a comprehensive community college offering degrees, certificates, and transfer pathways across diverse fields including Agriculture, Health Professions (like Registered Nursing), Business, Computer Science, and numerous Trades. The mission is to empower a diverse student population to discover opportunities and reach their goals through accessible and inclusive higher education.

The Modesto Junior College Performing and Media Arts Center is located on the college’s East Campus at 435 College Ave, Modesto, CA 95350, USA. It sits conveniently on College Avenue, bordered by Stoddard Avenue and South Drive, making it a distinct and easily findable landmark within the Modesto community.

Accessibility is a priority for the facility, ensuring that all members of the California community can attend events and utilize the academic resources. Key accessibility features include:

• Wheelchair Accessibility: The facility provides a wheelchair accessible entrance, making movement into and out of the building seamless for all patrons.
• Parking: Convenient on-site parking is available for visitors, which is complemented by a wheelchair accessible parking lot. This eliminates parking stress for those attending evening performances or day-time classes.

The college’s location in Modesto, CA, places it in the heart of the Central Valley, accessible via major regional roadways, making it a viable destination for students and audience members traveling from surrounding towns and counties. Furthermore, the college works to ensure ease of access between its campuses and the wider community, utilizing available regional transit resources.

The Performing and Media Arts Center primarily serves as a venue for academic instruction and public performance, which are integral to the college's overall offerings. The core services directly related to the Center and its surrounding academic school include:

• Academic Instruction in the Arts: Offering degree and certificate programs in areas such as Dance, Theatre, Film, Television & Electronic Media, Music, Communication Studies, and various Art concentrations (ceramics, computer graphics, photography).
• Public Theatre Productions: Hosting multiple productions each semester in its Main Auditorium and Little Theatre, ranging from classic dramas (like 'Wait Until Dark' and 'Antigone') to major musicals (like 'Cabaret'), providing affordable, high-quality entertainment to the community.
• Music and Dance Concerts: Serving as the main venue for various student and faculty performances, including symphony orchestra concerts, choral concerts, jazz ensembles, and recitals.
• Media Production Facilities: Utilizing its state-of-the-art facilities, which include a TV Control room, TV Studio, and Radio/Recording Studio, to train students in broadcasting and media production.
• Community Event Venue: The facility is occasionally available for rent by non-profit community groups for functions when its use does not interfere with the regular educational program, serving as a center for community assembly.
• Forensics Competition: Supporting the nationally renowned MJC Speech & Debate Team, which utilizes the Communication Studies programs housed within the School of Arts, Performance & the Humanities.

The unique features that distinguish the Modesto Junior College Performing and Media Arts Center are:

• State-of-the-Art Performance Venue: Opened in 2008, the 54,000-square-foot facility was specifically designed to provide a professional, modern performance space with comfortable seating and excellent climate control.
• Exceptional Acoustics: A key highlight for patrons, the excellent acoustic design ensures high-quality sound distribution throughout the entire theater, enhancing the audience experience for both drama and musical performances.
• Comprehensive Arts School: The Center is the home base for a wide range of academic programs—Art, Dance, Communication, Film/TV, and Music—offering career-focused degrees and certificates right here in Modesto.
• Affordable Community Entertainment: The Center provides accessible, low-cost tickets to performances, making quality live theatre, music, and dance available to all members of the Central Valley community.
• Notable Alumni Connection: Modesto Junior College counts numerous accomplished individuals among its former students, including Academy Award-nominated actor Jeremy Renner, who attended the college.
• Robust Academic Support: As part of MJC, the center is connected to extensive student services, including counseling, tutoring, financial aid, and transfer assistance for students aiming for four-year California universities.

Address: 5808, 435 College Ave, Modesto, CA 95350, USA
Phone: (209) 575-6081

For California residents, particularly those in the Central Valley, Modesto Junior College and its Performing and Media Arts Center are worth choosing for multiple compelling reasons. First, as a prospective student, MJC offers a high-value entry point into higher education with affordable tuition and numerous transfer pathways to state universities. While some students may find traditional academics challenging, MJC actively provides extensive support services, including tutoring, counseling, and a dedicated Success Network, to help every student reach their goals—whether that involves transferring, entering a trade, or achieving a degree. The diversity of its 'Schools' (Agriculture, Health, Business, Trades) ensures that students have options beyond liberal arts.

Second, for those interested in the Arts, the Performing and Media Arts Center itself is a regional treasure. It provides professional-grade facilities for academic programs, meaning students learn their craft in an optimal, modern environment—a significant advantage over lesser-equipped institutions. For the community, choosing to attend a performance here means supporting local talent and enjoying an evening of high-quality entertainment in a comfortable, well-maintained, and acoustically superb venue. The Center is a clear testament to MJC's mission to serve as a cornerstone in the community, enriching the cultural life of Modesto and the entire Central Valley.

Modesto Junior College Performing and Media Arts Center

5808, 435 College Ave, Modesto, CA 95350, USA