Vanderbilt University is set to transform a piece of San Francisco history with the $75 million gift from Nvidia co-founder Jensen Huang. The donation will fund the Jen-Hsun and Lori Huang College of Art, Architecture and Design, replacing the beloved California College of the Arts (CCA) after it struggled financially.

The move has divided opinion in the local art community. While Huang believes that 'creative practice is one of innovation’s most essential engines,' critics argue that billionaires with no artistic background should not be dictating the future of fine arts education.

CCA alumni and artists, such as Lindsey White, express concern over the replacement of a 120-year-old legacy institution. She says, 'These billionaires would much rather play God and remake our art schools in their own image than support a 120-year-old legacy fine art school.'

The transition from CCA to Vanderbilt comes at an ironic time for California Governor Gavin Newsom, who had attempted to secure $20 million in public funding to save the institution. Newsom's efforts were met with resistance and opposition from state lawmakers.

Despite his shock at the closure, the governor argued that the arts are vital to the cultural sector of the state. However, critics suggest he should have foreseen this outcome.