Arts are vital to our quality of life. In addition to the economic benefits – the nation’s arts and culture sector is a nearly $700 billion industry, representing a larger share of the economy than transportation and agriculture – arts impact the very fabric of lives and communities.
Reasons for supporting the arts abound. A high arts concentration in a city leads to higher civic engagement, more social cohesion, higher child welfare, and lower crime and poverty rates.
Through the Creative Catalyst Program, The San Diego Foundation strengthens the region’s local creative sector by supporting emerging and established artists whose pieces spark conversation, invite community members to explore new worlds and celebrate our region’s unique diversity.
In its third cycle of awards, the 2015 Creative Catalyst projects invite community members to engage in local arts performances that address personal, community and global themes. Check out the following opportunities to be part of the creative process.
Yale supports San Diego communities in better understanding each other through music.
As part of his fellowship, Yale works with two of San Diego’s growing communities– Somali and Chaldean – to explore their rick folk music traditions and develop a traditional classical music piece to be performed with soloists from each community.
The Creative Catalyst: Individual Artist Fellowship Program provides opportunities for local professional artists like Yale, Todd and Mike to create work that advances their careers and increases civic engagement and social capital within San Diego neighborhoods.
As the Community Impact Manager at The San Diego Foundation, Vi works with local governments, nonprofits, academic institutions and community groups to identify and support strategic partnerships throughout the region aligned with Work, Enjoy, Live and Learn (WELL). Vi earned a bachelor’s degree in Communications from UC Santa Barbara and a master’s degree in Nonprofit Leadership and Management from the University of San Diego.
On August 9, 2022, we awarded $838,704 in Opening the Outdoors grants to 24 nonprofit organizations that offer equitable access to outdoor spaces in San Diego County.
“San Diego Foundation is proud to once again support its partners committed to increasing community-driven efforts to enhance accessible outdoor space, encourage youth to learn more through hands-on education and create the next generation of environmental stewards in the San Diego region,” said Christiana DeBenedict, SDF Director of Environment Initiatives.
This year’s grantees will help address these inequities and enhance access to the outdoors throughout San Diego County.
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