Minnesota Conservatory For The Arts

COVID-19 Specific Information and Services

The doors to our brick and mortar home, the Valencia Arts Center may be closed, however MCA's dedicated staff and faculty are working hard to bring the arts, routine, and community through virtual arts programming. New programs are being developed daily, but include online private music instruction, live virtual art, theatre, dance, and music classes and pre-recorded educational instruction and virtual creativity challenges.

About Us

Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts (MCA) is a nonprofit community arts school that exists to provide quality performance and visual arts education in music, theatre, dance and visual arts by nurturing and encouraging artistic expression in children and adults. MCA began in 1973 in a one-room dance studio under the direction of Stefannié Valéncia Kierlin as The Ballet School and has blossomed into a full spectrum community arts school, that today serves more than 14,000 community members annually. In 2003 MCA became an affiliate program of Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota.

MCA strives to make the arts accessible to all residents of Southeastern Minnesota regardless of ability, age, race, gender, religious affiliation, or economic background, with a special focus on programs for youth. MCA fulfills this mission by leveraging community connections with local organizations and through regular arts education programming in performing and visual arts at the Valencia Arts Center, MCA’s home. Additionally, MCA provides financial scholarships to families in need as well as providing a handful of free events throughout the year open to the community.