The Valera NEST Public Art Project
Overview
The Valera NEST (a Nurturing Environment for Students to Thrive) is a renovated space that opened in January 2026 within the University Student Union (USU). The facility centralizes access to food, housing, clothing and wellness services with a goal of providing a place where students can access essential resources, build community and thrive as they pursue their educational goals.
Housed within the building are the CSUN Office of Basic Needs (CSUN with a Heart), the CSUN Food Pantry, Matty’s Closet, Ila’s Kitchen (an open lounge/community kitchen space with table seating, power outlets, food prep areas [hot water/microwaves] and storage), cold food storage, and an outdoor lounge space with shaded, f lexible seating. The Valera NEST is a collaboration between the University Student Union, Division of Student Affairs, Office of Basic Needs, Career Center and the College of Health & Human Development and is intended to foster belonging, well-being and holistic student success while normalizing the experience of students who seek supportive resources.
The USU has reserved a prominent outside wall of The Valera NEST for a permanent public art installation to be imagined/conceptualized, created/fabricated and installed directly by CSUN students or a student-led team. A portion of the wall includes a large window that may be converted into an LED-lit display in the future which may be integrated into the concept for the project. The wall consists of unsealed plaster suitable for the direct application of paint, which may then be sealed for preservation.
This project is intended to be an extension of past student-focused art projects within the USU, including permanent student-created public art installations in the Oasis Wellness Center and the USU’s Student Art Collection, consisting of a variety of student pieces placed throughout the USU facilities that were purchased over several years from the Annual Juried Student Art Exhibition.
Current CSUN students who are interested in submitting a proposal should review the full Creative Brief for comprehensive guidelines, eligibility criteria, and submission requirements. Please use the links below to access the brief and complete submission details.