The San Diego Museum of Art Awarded $530,000 Grant From the James Irvine Foundation

Museum to create community-based, public art in diverse neighborhoods

San Diego - The San Diego Museum of Art announced today the receipt of a grant from the James Irvine Foundation, one of California’s most respected arts grantmaking organizations. $530,000 has been awarded to the San Diego institution. The goal of this project is to build relationships with four diverse neighborhoods through art by drawing on the incredible talent and creative assets available in these communities, and providing critical resources to realize works of art that are meaningful to the neighborhoods’ residents.  This effort supports the interest of The San Diego Museum of Art to share art beyond its home in Balboa Park.

“This most prestigious grant provides an opportunity for civic participation that will create a cultural focal point within each neighborhood,” said Roxana Velasquez, Executive Director of The San Diego Museum of Art. “We are committed to expanding The San Diego Museum of Art’s outreach efforts in order to better engage the community and this project, Open Spaces: Engaging Communities through Art, will play a vital role in that expansion.”

An Artist in Residence will work with residents and community artists to conceptualize, plan, and create works of art in four San Diego neighborhoods. The finished works are meant to create cultural tourism for the community and allow people from diverse backgrounds to work together with professional artists on projects that will become a source of pride for residents.  Work will begin in Logan Heights in early 2013. Lincoln Park will be the second neighborhood for the project, with work also beginning in 2013. The remaining two communities are not yet determined and will be the focus of the project in 2014.

About The San Diego Museum of Art

The San Diego Museum of Art is located at 1450 El Prado in Balboa Park, San Diego, Calif., 92101. General Information, (619) 232-7931, Group Sales: (619) 696-1935, Website, Twitter: @SDMA, Facebook

The San Diego Museum of Art provides a rich and diverse cultural experience for 350,000 visitors annually. Located in the heart of beautiful Balboa Park, the Museum’s nationally renowned collections include Spanish and Italian old masters, South Asian paintings, and 19th and 20th century American paintings and sculptures. The Museum regularly features major exhibitions of art from around the world, as well as an extensive year-round schedule supporting cultural and educational programs for children and adults. At The San Diego Museum of Art, exhibition text is always in English and Spanish.

About The James Irvine Foundation

The James Irvine Foundation is a private, nonprofit grantmaking foundation dedicated to expanding opportunity for the people of California to participate in a vibrant, successful and inclusive society. The Foundation’s grantmaking focuses on three program areas: Arts, California Democracy and Youth. Since 1937 the Foundation has provided over $1.3 billion in grants to more than 3,500 nonprofit organizations throughout California. With about $1.6 billion in assets, the Foundation made grants of $65 million in 2011 for the people of California.

For more information about the Irvine Foundation, please visit our Website or call 415.777.2244.

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