Our Pledge to Create
As arts educators, we partner with your children to make sense of the world around them in joyous and troubling times.
This moment of merging racial unrest and global pandemic is more than troubling; the past days and weeks have glaringly exposed the systemic racism and social injustices that exist every day in this country.
As MSA artists and staff, we reinvigorate our promise to create connection, meaning, and empathy through our media.
The Marin School of the Arts staff steadfastly supports black voices that speak now and have spoken for centuries about the abuse of the most basic intentions of our Constitution to provide a safe space and equality for all.
MSA continues to welcome and honor the many voices of diversity and the brilliance they yield to the enrichment and uniqueness of art, life, and community.
— Philip Chidel, Janelle Mitnick Cooper, Michelle Cortez,Toran Davenport, Rodney Franz, Howard Gersh, Dr. Greg Johnson, Sabrina Kalleen, Ben Knudson, Taylor Mancini, Shannon Miller, Peter Ornstein, Rebecca Pollack and Matthew Verplaetse
ARTWORK BY STUDENT ARTIST PASCALE DE BUREN
MSA Summer Updates and Office Closure
After remote learning and alternative end-of-year activities, our MSA community is eager to return to business and talk to you and see you soon. The MSA Office is officially closed from June 22 to August 17. We will send out newsletters in summer monthly editions on Wednesday, July 8th and Wednesday, August 12th. MSA Director Michelle Cortez will return to work July 31 to respond to emails and inquiries.
In the meantime, here’s where you can find assistance:
- Fall Reentry – You are encouraged to stay abreast of current reentry, schedule, and budget developments on the NUSD website.
- New Student and Transfer Status Inquiries – NHS Registrar Rosemary Boreggo can help current NHS students and new students moving into the NHS boundaries. Transfer students should reach out to NUSD Jennifer Casper for transfer updates.
- For all other inquires, you are welcome to send an email to MSA Director Michelle Cortez or Program Specialist Shannon Miller but please expect delayed response times.
Save the Date!
MSA Town Hall #1 (Orientation) is Monday, August 17 at 6pm –
format TBD.
This first meeting of the year is for ALL students and families to reconnect with as a community and hear updates from teachers and family boosters. Don’t miss it!
MSA FOUNDATION
The MSA Foundation raises over $400,000 annually to support MSA programs the school district can’t provide. With the community, the Foundation enhances and sustains arts education for all MSA students.
MSA ADMISSIONS
MSA is a specialized program within Novato High School. MSA Admissions include an application process followed by an audition/portfolio review. MSA students have daily MSA arts classes and NHS academic classes.
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A VISION OF OUR FUTURE
Thanks to the generosity of Novato voters and homeowners and visionary planning from our NUSD leadership, the new Center for the Arts is scheduled to break ground this June.
The multidisciplinary theatre and gallery will be built on the current NHS tennis courts with access directly from the NHS parking lot with completion estimated in 18 months. Our hope is that our current freshmen and sophomore students will celebrate the center’s ribbon cutting in Spring 2021.
The bond measure financed $25-million-dollar project is designed by award-winning architects Shalleck Collaborative and will feature a 450-seat theatre on two levels, and a permanent art gallery with flexible rooms space for classes or dressing rooms. MSA programs will have priority in to accommodate our major productions and exhibitions. The Center for the Arts will also host activities by other NUSD, Novato, and touring groups.
The MSA Foundation is raising funds for state-of-the-art lights, sound and technology through Fund-the-Future paddle raises at our Divine Wine and Showcase performances, which are essential to the completion of this vital community asset to augment the technical package provided by the bond funding.
It’s a pleasure to plan with the Center for the Arts in mind. This process begs for community participation and support. We invite you, our families and community sponsors, to get your creative sparks flying. In what ways might we partner to engage, inspire, and empower our community through the arts in this new facility?
MSA FAMILY TOUR
Discover the breadth of MSA programs at Novato High School! Interested students in the 8th grade with a parent or guardian are invited to attend an MSA Family Tour, including all program classes in progress. Click the link to reserve your tour date.
UPCOMING EVENTS
About the MSA program
Marin School of the Arts (MSA) is an award-winning arts program within Novato High School, a top performing public high school offering challenging and innovative academic programs, as well as outstanding athletic and club offerings.
MSA gives talented and motivated students from across the North Bay and beyond the chance to study with top arts professionals in their fields. As part of a public high school, MSA can offer quality arts programs to a greater variety of young artists. MSA provides college-level arts study in a variety of arts disciplines, which results in students gaining a higher skill set in their studies as well as greater confidence in their abilities. MSA teaches young artists how to follow through on commitments, how to multitask and how to rise to extreme challenges while developing thier individuality and self-identity.
As part of a public high school, MSA is an affordable and cost-effective program which encourages a greater diversity of talented young artists. The school attracts students from across Marin and Sonoma counties as well as students traveling from as far away as San Francisco and Vallejo. This mix encourages a dynamic community of young artists sharing ideas, experiences and projects.
MSA PROGRAMS
