In 1977, artists from the nearby Claremont Colleges started to turn some vacant buildings into studios where they could live and pursue their craft. By the 1990s, their efforts had become such a force for revitalizing downtown that the city of Pomona rezoned dozens of blocks for cultural-themed development.

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The Pomona Arts Colony has continued to grow organically ever since. There is a loft scene housing hundreds of creatives, educators, and entrepreneurs, a music scene with legendary venues like the Haven, the Glass House, and the Fox Theater. There are nightclubs, restaurants, breweries, and quirky boutiques. The neighborhood even has two art anchors now, the American Museum of Ceramic Art and the School of Arts and Enterprise.