In 1980, the Rancho Santiago Community College District (RSCCD) purchased 30 acres from The Irvine Company to build a college campus in East Orange that would meet the current and future educational needs of this rapidly growing community.

Santiago Canyon College sponsors various arts programs though their visual arts, theatre, music and modern languages departments. Most events are open to the public and many are free. The college offers arts related workshops and classes that are open to the community.