In May of 1997, NoCCA was formed by a group of concerned citizens of the northend communities to fulfill parts of the Cultural Plan for Imperial County. This pointed to a need for revitalization of the arts in the northend. NoCCA initially existed under the umbrella of the Imperial County Arts Council. Today, NoCCA continues and remains as an arts council, with a 100% volunteer board, to provide services and support for the arts in the Imperial County. Having come full-circle it serves as Imperial County Arts Council.

Although located in the city of Brawley, NoCCA supports and provides funding for art education, art exhibits and art-related events. NoCCA’s advocacy of the arts and our desire are to continue to inspire and work with the supporters of the arts; we encourage first-class venue offering quality performances and educational programs.

Over the years, NoCCA has lit up Palmer Performing Arts Center with touring professional groups: e.g. Mainly Mozart Orchestra, Kingston Trio, Forever Plaid, Chamber Orchestra Kremlin, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Gospel Hummingbirds, Poncho Sanchez Latin Jazz Band, City Ballet of San Diego, All American Boys Chorus, San Diego Opera Ensemble,  Poetry Alive, TheatreworksUSA, Peking Acrobats, Dublin Irish Cabaret, Los Angeles Guitar Quartet, Classical Guitarist Eliot Fisk, Vienna Choir Boys, storytellers and puppeteers and children’s theater groups, including Missoula Children’s Theatre.

NoCCA is well-known to produce a number of world-class musicals filled with children and local talent of all ages: “Kiss Me Kate,” “Annie” (twice), “Oliver!,” “The Wizard of Oz,” “Annie Get Your Gun,” “The King and I,” “The Music Man,” and this year’s “Beauty and the Beast.” Productions were complete with sets, costumes, sound and lights and a full orchestra and involved several months of planning, building and rehearsals.  NoCCA has also produced the popular annual Dinner Theatre Gala performed on the small stage of the Stockmans Club of Imperial Valley.

NoCCA was instrumental in the formation of the Brawley Downtown Arts District. Brawley City Council approved the resolution on June 17, 2014, and named NoCCA as the overseeing advisory agency. NoCCA provides consulting and support to businesses, local government agencies and schools as well as in areas of social media, marketing, lighting and sound technical advice and promoting all things related to the arts and entertainment industry. NoCCA believes that working together will inspire and ensure that the arts remain the cornerstone for humanity so that the arts and our collective culture will continue to thrive for future generations.