REDCAT facts for kids
The Roy and Edna Disney CalArts Theater (REDCAT) is a cool art center in downtown Los Angeles, California. It's a place where different kinds of art come together, like visual art, performances, and media art. You can find it inside the famous Walt Disney Concert Hall building.
REDCAT is named after Roy O. Disney and his wife, Edna. Roy O. Disney was the brother of Walt Disney and helped build The Walt Disney Company. The center opened in November 2003. It helps the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) share its creative work in the heart of Los Angeles.
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| Address | 631 W. 2nd Hope St. Los Angeles, United States |
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| Type | Theatre, gallery, art center |
| Capacity | 270 (est.) |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 2003 |
| Architect | Frank Gehry |
What Can You See at REDCAT?
REDCAT offers many exciting programs for people to enjoy. These programs bring together different types of art.
- Visual Arts: This includes art you can see, like paintings, sculptures, and digital art.
- Performing Arts: This means live shows, such as plays, dance, and performance art.
- Film/Video: You can watch interesting movies and video art here.
- Music: REDCAT hosts concerts and musical performances.
- Conversations: Sometimes, artists and experts talk about art and ideas.
The Building and Spaces
REDCAT has special spaces designed for art. It includes a large gallery space, which is about 3,000 square feet. This is where visual art is shown.
There is also a flexible theater that can seat between 200 and 270 people. This theater is called a "black box" because it can be changed easily for different types of performances. It also has a lounge, cafe, and bar area for visitors.
How REDCAT Started
The idea for REDCAT began in the early 1990s. This was when the Walt Disney Concert Hall was being built. Roy E. Disney, the son of Roy O. and Edna Disney, wanted CalArts to have a place in downtown Los Angeles.
With help from The Walt Disney Company and Los Angeles County, the famous architect Frank Gehry designed REDCAT. Gehry also designed the Concert Hall. Roy E. Disney and his wife Patty also gave money. They named the center after Roy E. Disney's parents, Roy O. and Edna Disney.
Steven D. Lavine, who was the president of CalArts at the time, wanted REDCAT to be a place for new and experimental art. He also wanted it to connect artists with the community. The goal was to offer Los Angeles residents a chance to see new and exciting art more often.
In 1999, Harvey Lichtenstein, who led the Brooklyn Academy of Music, helped plan REDCAT. Later, Mark Murphy became the first executive director in 2001. He noticed that Los Angeles needed more places that showed many different kinds of art.
In 2003, Eungie Joo became the Gallery Director. This meant the theater and gallery programs grew separately at first. Later, Clara Kim and Ruth Estévez also served as Gallery Directors.
In 2018, the leader of REDCAT became a senior position at CalArts. This person would also help manage CalArts' partnerships with other art places around the world.
In 2019, João Ribas became the new leader of REDCAT. He was given a special chair named after Steven D. Lavine, who first imagined REDCAT. This change brought the visual and performing arts programs back together. Now, one team works to bring all kinds of experimental art to the public.
Images for kids
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The logo for REDCAT.
