A question we asked the artist forum participants was what opportunities already exist that are helping to make the San Diego region a better place for individual artist to pursue their career? We narrowed the major themes down to, potential for collaboration, the opportunity to fill cultural needs and wants, the weather, the lack of cultural saturation, and other miscellaneous venues and outlets. Here are more details of what artists had to say about what is working in San Diego.
Potential for Collaboration:
• Community centers and schools work with artists.
• The ability for public service institutions to thrive, primarily community centers that reach out to youth and members of the community.
• Museum of Contemporary Art has student led programs and is very approachable.
• Community groups
• San Diego Foundation: They listen and make connections
• Arts Commission
• Cross Border Collaboration: Attempting to trade works with Tijuana (artists)
• Opportunities for cross collaboration according to discipline/culture.
• Culture represented: Mexican, Somalia, Iraqi, Hmong-lots of people within the United States move to San Diego. Lots of people throughout the world move to San Diego.
• Dialogue with Mexico! Because of proximity to Mexico, there is a potential for T.J. identity.
• Proximity to T.H.-One the map, it looks like one city. Lots of potential for collaboration.
• Proximity to Los Angeles-locations! It’s not LA! It’s not Chicago! San Diego can fly under the radar.
• Flourishing Theatre Dance and music-no real sense of competition; more emphasis on collaboration.
• Collaborative relationship with Individual artists. Artist came four years ago and is partnering with big organization.
• Freedom! Experimental aspect of arts. Welcome feel to San Diego. Not so uptight. Audience is not so uptight.
• Larger organizations partner with Smaller organizations. (ie San Diego Museum of Art with Art of Elan (classical chamber music.)
• Small orgs. /pockets of talented people with volunteers. An infrastructure that exists.
• Acknowledgement that partnership is an asset (T.J. with S.D.) People in the community are committed in investigating that identity.
• Diversity of talent-Big orgs to grassroots. Spring organizations plays into the mainstream.
• San Diego=grassroots.
• Organizing with a network: Activity among friends. Institution through network. . Lack of structure that provides that partnership.
The Opportunity to Fill Cultural Needs and Wants:
• Impromptu art spaces.
• Affordable housing (low rents)
• Taking the initiative to establish a different attitude towards the arts draws artists and galleries back to the city. This creates an overall attitude of an artist community
• Space 4 Art: Intentional, permanent, affordable living/work space for artists with exposure to opportunities.
• Culture of the individual artist. Self-starters can come here to make their “dreams” happen.
• Artist talent meets the need of a certain audience. (Individual artist, DJ- people who want to go out.)
• Artists are committed in staying here. Unlike Los Angeles, it’s a livable city.
• Talented artists have a lot of desire to see things grow and flourish.
• Impetus to create something…the arts and culture bring people from the outside.
• Underground spaces-not rigid creating a “wild west” cultural frontier atmosphere. This is unlike New York, which is highly institutionalized.
• San Diego is a blank canvas “building as we go.” As one collects resources, one can care their own system.
• Cultural Diversity: Go anywhere in the city and see a different culture.
• Culturally rich area, schools, educational-artist education.
• San Diego’s identity is a raw piece of clay that can become something amazing. Because there are long-term institutions that have survived (Sushi,) there is a healthy indication that what works in San Diego great potential for the creating of an identity.
Weather:
• Weather draws people out to commune with others.
• Weather!!! Opportunities to do more. Big nightlife.
• Community value in the environment.
Lack of cultural saturation:
• Increased number of spaces for artists to perform (i.e. musicians)
• “Young audiences” (youth program)
• Small “Modern” spaces opening up (more inviting)
• Music venues are accessible (innovative)
• San Diego doesn’t have cultural saturation-there is a “need” for culture.
• Cultural saturation: “Everyone can enjoy classical music.” Diverse audiences. San Diego attracts young people…there is something for everyone to do and for everyone to enjoy.
• San Diego has a large audience. (Social networking=meet-up.)
• People are committed in staying here. Enough people that are like that.
• Artists want to stay here. It’s not L.A. It’s livable city.
• Artists have a lot of talent. Artists have a lot of desire to see things grow and flourish.
• Impetus to create something…the arts and culture bring people from the outside.
Miscellaneous
• “Arts Center” for graphic artists
• Revitalization through the arts (in general)
• • AA. in museum studies.
• Size/Layout: If something doesn’t work, the world won’t know. Potential to get national attention.
• Potential for money in San Diego for artists.
• Universities and Colleges work within their system. (However, they don’t collaborate together.) San Diego has a strong academic presence.
• People with creative ideas
Potential for Collaboration:
• Community centers and schools work with artists.
• The ability for public service institutions to thrive, primarily community centers that reach out to youth and members of the community.
• Museum of Contemporary Art has student led programs and is very approachable.
• Community groups
• San Diego Foundation: They listen and make connections
• Arts Commission
• Cross Border Collaboration: Attempting to trade works with Tijuana (artists)
• Opportunities for cross collaboration according to discipline/culture.
• Culture represented: Mexican, Somalia, Iraqi, Hmong-lots of people within the United States move to San Diego. Lots of people throughout the world move to San Diego.
• Dialogue with Mexico! Because of proximity to Mexico, there is a potential for T.J. identity.
• Proximity to T.H.-One the map, it looks like one city. Lots of potential for collaboration.
• Proximity to Los Angeles-locations! It’s not LA! It’s not Chicago! San Diego can fly under the radar.
• Flourishing Theatre Dance and music-no real sense of competition; more emphasis on collaboration.
• Collaborative relationship with Individual artists. Artist came four years ago and is partnering with big organization.
• Freedom! Experimental aspect of arts. Welcome feel to San Diego. Not so uptight. Audience is not so uptight.
• Larger organizations partner with Smaller organizations. (ie San Diego Museum of Art with Art of Elan (classical chamber music.)
• Small orgs. /pockets of talented people with volunteers. An infrastructure that exists.
• Acknowledgement that partnership is an asset (T.J. with S.D.) People in the community are committed in investigating that identity.
• Diversity of talent-Big orgs to grassroots. Spring organizations plays into the mainstream.
• San Diego=grassroots.
• Organizing with a network: Activity among friends. Institution through network. . Lack of structure that provides that partnership.
The Opportunity to Fill Cultural Needs and Wants:
• Impromptu art spaces.
• Affordable housing (low rents)
• Taking the initiative to establish a different attitude towards the arts draws artists and galleries back to the city. This creates an overall attitude of an artist community
• Space 4 Art: Intentional, permanent, affordable living/work space for artists with exposure to opportunities.
• Culture of the individual artist. Self-starters can come here to make their “dreams” happen.
• Artist talent meets the need of a certain audience. (Individual artist, DJ- people who want to go out.)
• Artists are committed in staying here. Unlike Los Angeles, it’s a livable city.
• Talented artists have a lot of desire to see things grow and flourish.
• Impetus to create something…the arts and culture bring people from the outside.
• Underground spaces-not rigid creating a “wild west” cultural frontier atmosphere. This is unlike New York, which is highly institutionalized.
• San Diego is a blank canvas “building as we go.” As one collects resources, one can care their own system.
• Cultural Diversity: Go anywhere in the city and see a different culture.
• Culturally rich area, schools, educational-artist education.
• San Diego’s identity is a raw piece of clay that can become something amazing. Because there are long-term institutions that have survived (Sushi,) there is a healthy indication that what works in San Diego great potential for the creating of an identity.
Weather:
• Weather draws people out to commune with others.
• Weather!!! Opportunities to do more. Big nightlife.
• Community value in the environment.
Lack of cultural saturation:
• Increased number of spaces for artists to perform (i.e. musicians)
• “Young audiences” (youth program)
• Small “Modern” spaces opening up (more inviting)
• Music venues are accessible (innovative)
• San Diego doesn’t have cultural saturation-there is a “need” for culture.
• Cultural saturation: “Everyone can enjoy classical music.” Diverse audiences. San Diego attracts young people…there is something for everyone to do and for everyone to enjoy.
• San Diego has a large audience. (Social networking=meet-up.)
• People are committed in staying here. Enough people that are like that.
• Artists want to stay here. It’s not L.A. It’s livable city.
• Artists have a lot of talent. Artists have a lot of desire to see things grow and flourish.
• Impetus to create something…the arts and culture bring people from the outside.
Miscellaneous
• “Arts Center” for graphic artists
• Revitalization through the arts (in general)
• • AA. in museum studies.
• Size/Layout: If something doesn’t work, the world won’t know. Potential to get national attention.
• Potential for money in San Diego for artists.
• Universities and Colleges work within their system. (However, they don’t collaborate together.) San Diego has a strong academic presence.
• People with creative ideas
