With melodies setting a captivating tone along with ballet and break dancers , San Diego County leaders Terra Lawson-Remer and Monica Montgomery Steppe today unveiled an innovative arts and culture initiative poised to revolutionize the arts scene, especially within diverse and underserved communities.

“Our residents are hungry for these arts programs in so many communities. The proposal includes up to $2.75 million in total funding, with $2.25 million in ongoing annual investments, to launch and sustain everything from an artist grant program, to investments in the Black Arts and Culture District, to an artist space grant program & a binational creative economy investment,  and artist in residence program,” said Board Chair Terra Lawson-Remer. 

“Too often our black, brown and immigrant neighborhoods have been overlooked. Arts and culture are not optional – they are foundational to a thriving, inclusive San Diego County. Today, we are making the choice to move that vision forward,” said Board Vice Chair Monica Montgomery Steppe.  

San Diego County’s arts and culture ecosystem is at a critical moment. After several years of significant disruption and recovery, it is now facing a federal government that is pulling back from its long-standing support for the arts, contributing to a broader contraction in public investment. 

“Today’s investment signals that the County recognizes and values the power of diverse voices across the arts sector. The Black Arts and Culture District stands as a vital hub for cultural expression and creative enterprise, and this investment affirms the County’s commitment to advancing arts and culture in an inclusive and meaningful way,” said Gaidi Finnie, executive director of the African American Museum of Fine Arts. 

 “San Diego ART Matters and the broader artist community commend the County’s long-overdue historic investment in the arts. This initiative transforms passion into purposeful, strategic action—placing the creative economy at the table of our region’s future,”  said Bob Lehman, executive director of San Diego ART Matters. 

Key components of the proposed initiative include:

• Artist Grant Program ($1 million annually): Direct, low-barrier funding for individual artists, prioritizing underserved communities and supporting both emerging and established creatives.
• Artist-in-Residence Program ($250,000 annually): Placement of local artists within County departments to address public challenges through creative, community-informed approaches.
• Artist Space Grant Program ($500,000 annually): Expanding access to affordable creative spaces and activating County-owned properties for public arts programming.
• Binational Creative Economy Investment ($250,000 annually): Strengthening cross-border arts and cultural collaboration in the San Diego–Baja California region.
• Arts and Cultural District Designation Program: Formal recognition and support for culturally rich areas across the County, with a focus on historically underfunded communities.
• Black Arts and Culture District Investment ($500,000 one-time): Supporting infrastructure, programming, and economic development in a key cultural hub.

The initiative also includes efforts to leverage philanthropic partnerships, advocate for expanded arts funding, and establish the County as a designated Local Arts Agency through the California Arts Council.

 The San Diego County Board of Supervisors is set to vote on the proposal, titled "Investing in Arts, Culture, and Creative Opportunity for All," during their upcoming meeting on Tuesday, May 5. For more details on the initiative, read further here.