When news broke last week that California College of the Arts would close in 2027, the announcement came as a shock to students and the broader art world. It also appears to have caught one key figure off guard: Governor Gavin Newsom.

The San Francisco Standard reported that text messages sent by Newsom after the announcement suggested he “had no clue” and received “no heads up” about CCA’s impending closure, now slated for the end of the 2026–27 academic year.

CCA and its president, David Howse, disputed that account, however, telling the Standard that Newsom had been notified the Monday before the announcement. A meeting between CCA leadership and the governor’s office to discuss the transition is scheduled for this week.