California Institute of the Arts, a world-class art institute in Santa Clarita, will team with the Santa Clarita Valley Economic Development Corporation, the Santa Clarita Valley Business Journal and Pitch Globally Media for CalArts’ annual Digital Arts Expo at the college on Thursday, May 3.

These events are part of CalArts’ continued effort to extend their reach into the local community and bring community members and business leaders to campus to showcase the phenomenal talent that is nurtured there.

This year’s Digital Arts Expo is bigger than ever and will feature more than 400 artists with displays, dance and music performances, video screenings, and more.

At this year’s event, the Santa Clarita Valley Business Journal will host their Technology Awards, sponsored by SCVEDC, which will honor the top technology businesses in the SCV.

As part of the Tech Awards, the SCVBJ will also give out two awards for CalArts student projects. The award ceremony will take place from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Sharon Disney Lund Theater on the CalArts campus.

To nominate an SCV technology company, click here. SCVBJ is accepting nominations until April 13. To reserve free tickets to the event, click here.

Immediately following the awards presentation, Pitch Globally Media, one of the largest networks of investors and entrepreneurs in the country, will host a live, shark tank-style pitch event where startup founders have two minutes to vie for attention and feedback from a panel of expert mentors and angel investors.

The winning pitch will garner a private session with the panel investor of their choice and an additional opportunity to pitch in front of a panel of angel investors in the Silicon Valley.

This event will run from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Startup founders interested in pitching during the Annual Digital Arts Expo or at future shark tank-style events should email Dezzi@umazed.com and startups@pitchgloballymedia.com for more information.

Attendees are also invited to stay after the pitch event to hear Book of Life director and CalArts alumni Jorge Gutierrez talk about the digital technology used in creating the award-winning film. His presentation will begin at 8:30 PM.

Guests are encouraged to attend all the evening’s events, as well as join SCVEDC at a happy hour from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. on the patio outside the theater. Attendees should make time to explore the CalArts Digital Expo which runs from 2 p.m. to 2 a.m. on campus. Prepare to be amazed and inspired.

Schedule of Events for the 2018 CalArts Digital Expo | Thursday, May 3, 2018

2 p.m. – 2 a.m. – Digital Expo Open to the Public (various locations on the CalArts campus)

5 p.m. – 6 p.m. – Cocktail Reception |Main Patio

6 p.m. – SCVBJ Technology Awards |Sharon Disney Lund Theater

7 p.m. – Pitch Globally Media Shark Tank-Style Event | Sharon Disney Lund Theater

8:30 p.m. – Presentation by Director Jorge Gutierrez | Sharon Disney Lund Theater

For more information about any of these events call the SCVEDC office at 661-288-4400 or email info@scvedc.org.

— By Alison Needham, SCVEDC