Breaking New Ground on the E. Claire Raley Studios for the Performing Arts in Midtown

Chalk this one up as a major win for the performing arts: The previously vacant Fremont School in Midtown Sacramento is currently undergoing a $6.5 million transformation to become the E. Claire Raley Studios for the Performing Arts. When completed, Raley Studios will house a number of local organizations, including the Sacramento Ballet, Alliance Française de Sacramento, Brazilian Center for Cultural Exchange of Sacramento and McKeever School of Irish Dance. Through an unprecedented agreement with the Sacramento City Unified School District, Raley Studios will also host countless local students by providing summer camps, internship opportunities, tickets to events and scholarships for students to interact with professional artists in a studio environment.

This past Monday, June 29, 2015, more than 50 community leaders, supporters of the arts and local school children gathered at the site for a ground breaking event that included a tour of the construction and performances by future tenants.

E. Claire Raley Studios

“The transformation of Raley Studios is part of the downtown Sacramento renaissance, breaking new ground and bringing music, dance and theater to a collaborative space,” said Richard Rich, Board President of Raley Studios. “Arts matter. Not only what it does to the spirit, but arts can lead economic development, foster lifetime learning, and make the Sacramento region more competitive attracting innovative businesses.”

Raley Studios is scheduled to open in January 2016 and is located at 2420 N Street. The project is being funded by two $2.5 million from the City of Sacramento and approximately $1.5 million in private donations. Follow along as the building transforms at Raleystudios.org, @RaleyStudios on Twitter, or at Facebook.com/raleystudios.