The building that now houses the Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center has stood as a landmark of the community for over a century. Built in 1924 as a neoclassical-style Methodist church, it was designed by noted architect Arthur G. Lindley and stood proudly at the corner of Los Angeles Avenue and Church Street—anchoring a growing area once known as the Community Center.
Set amid farmland, the building quickly became a vital hub for worship, community meetings, and local events. Over the next four decades, it hosted church services, Scout meetings, weddings, Sunday school, and even Mother’s Day performances by the Simi Elementary School girls’ glee club.
After the Methodist congregation relocated in 1966, the building took on new lives—serving at various times as a Jewish temple, a temporary school, and, during the 1970s, the Huber Chapel Mortuary, where the Huber family also resided.
By the late 1980s, the once-bustling space sat vacant—until the City of Simi Valley purchased it in 1991 for $820,000 with a vision to create a cultural arts center. Following a careful and historically mindful renovation, the Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center opened in November 1995 with a sold-out gala starring the legendary Rita Moreno.
Since then, the Center has hosted thousands of events, ranging from musicals, plays, and concerts to dance recitals, film screenings, and community events. Despite production challenges inherited from its original church design—the Center offers a uniquely intimate theatrical experience that puts storytelling front and center.
General Manager Fred Helsel, who has been with the Center since its inception, emphasizes the care taken to preserve its charm. Original pew ends line the theater aisles, and the stained-glass windows were replaced by the very same artisans who crafted them nearly a century ago. A new entry plaza, trellised walkways, and vintage-style lampposts now welcome visitors.
Today, SVCAC continues to honor its legacy by serving the community as a home for creativity, diversity, and cultural celebration.