The Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for The Performing Arts (The Soraya)

About the Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for the Performing Arts (The Soraya)

The Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for The Performing Arts (The Soraya) is an award-winning, state-of-the art 1,700-seat theatre designed and built by HGA Architects and Engineers and opened in January 2011 as the Valley Performing Arts Center (VPAC) on the campus of California State University Northridge (CSUN). Through a transformative gift by Younes and Soraya Nazarian the venue was renamed as The Soraya in 2017. Vibrant programming has served to establish The Soraya as the intellectual and cultural heart of the San Fernando Valley and its 1.8 million residents, and as one of the top arts and culture venues in Southern California. Since its inaugural season, The Soraya has presented over 500 artists and companies across the genres of music, dance, theater and film and is a highly in demand location for filming and rental events.

Equity Statement

"To our audiences we offer discovery, participation, engagement, and life-long learning. Some patrons walk to events from nearby neighborhoods, and others travel to us from hours away. In the lobby, we invite the suit and tie as well as shorts and sandals. No matter your background, The Soraya is a place where students, families, arts patrons, and first-timers are all equally welcomed. Curiosity is the common thread."

For more information about The Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for The Performing Arts (The Soraya)'s commitment to equity and racial justice, view their full equity statement.