In the early 1980's it became apparent that California was facing increased competition from other states for its third-largest source of tax revenue, the arts and entertainment industries. Film, television and recording studio complexes, which had been traditionally developed in California, were being built in Florida, Texas, and other locales. Motion picture industry executives and producers were increasingly looking outside of the state for production opportunities. Many of California's non-profit fine arts institutions, and the state's educational community, were feeling the effects of a diminishing interest in California from the commercial arts sector.
A three-year effort to establish an educational environment for young California artists began in 1982. Cultural activist and philanthropist Wendy Goldberg, as the appointed representative of the California Arts Council, spearheaded the effort to mobilize artists and cultural institutions, arts educators and education organizations, and the entertainment industry in support of the enabling legislation. Governor Jerry Brown signed SB1758, authored by State Senator Alan Sieroty, into law in 1982.
Ms. Goldberg continues her leadership on behalf of artistically talented youth as a Trustee of the School, and as the Chair of the Board of Directors of the California State Summer School Arts Foundation. Mr. Sieroty also remains involved as a Trustee of the School and member of the Foundation Board of Directors.
In 1983, a twenty-four member Advisory Council chaired by Joan Newberg, Executive Director of the San Fernando Valley Cultural Foundation, and including Ms. Goldberg and Mr. Sieroty, Founding Chair and current Advisory Board Member Donna Casey, and current Foundation Board member Mel Swope, was appointed by the California Arts Council and the State Board of Education as mandated by SB1758 to explore the cause of the talent drain, and to recommend statewide educational opportunities. One of the problems the Council discovered was that many of California's most talented young artists and entertainers were leaving the state to attend arts training programs in New York, North Carolina, Michigan, and other states - and then staying on to live and work where they went to school.
The work of this Advisory Council culminated on September 28, 1985, when Governor George Deukmejian signed SB45, authored by State Senator John Garamendi, which created the California State Summer School for the Arts (InnerSpark). The major objectives stated by the Legislature in establishing the school:
To enable artistically gifted and talented students, broadly representative of the socioeconomic and ethnic diversity of the state, to receive intensive training in the arts through a multidisciplinary program;
To provide a training ground for future artists who may wish to study and practice the arts or to pursue careers in the major performing arts companies and the commercial and fine arts institutions in California; and
To establish the California State Summer School Arts Foundation, a model for partnership between the public and private sectors.
InnerSpark held its first summer session in 1987, and proved so popular and successful that Governor Deukmejian signed follow-up legislation making the program a permanent program of the state in September of 1990. In 1992, Governor Pete Wilson signed legislation that allows the school to accept a limited number of students from outside of California, thereby making it an international program.
The California State Summer School for the Arts is the result of unique public and private sector planning and support. Now embarking on its twenty-fourth summer of operation the school has trained more than eleven thousand highly talented students.