San Diego ART Matters

10/09/2026

🎨🎉 FUN, ART & ENTERTAINMENT THIS SATURDAY!

Looking for some FREE family fun this weekend? The La Mesa Park & Recreation Foundation’s Art in the Park is taking over MacArthur Park this Saturday, October 10, for an afternoon packed with creativity, culture and FUN!

🥋 Live Entertainment! Enjoy martial arts demonstrations and live music.

🎨 Kids Zone! Hands-on crafts, activities and plenty of creative fun for the little ones.

🛍️ Shop & Explore! Discover local vendors and browse an auction filled with unique art and exciting finds.

🍔 Food & Drinks! Delicious options available for purchase throughout the afternoon.

📅 Saturday, October 10
⏰ 1:00–5:30 PM
📍 MacArthur Park
🎟️ FREE Admission
➡️ https://lamesaparks.org/1714/Events-Fundraisers

Bring the family, invite some friends and enjoy a colorful afternoon celebrating arts, culture and community!

10/07/2026

10/07/2026

San Diego ART Matters invites you to join an info session about Make Music Day , and the plans to launch this free musical holiday throughout San Diego County on June 21, 2027.

Aaron Friedman, Founder and Executive Director of the Make Music Alliance, will lead a discussion on the 45-year history of Make Music Day.

The session will be hosted at the Museum of Making Music in Carlsbad from 10:00 – 11:30am on Wednesday, October 28, 2026. Free admission to the museum is included with RSVP and refreshments will be provided.

Learn more and register: https://sdartmatters.org/make-music-san-diego/

10/06/2026

10/05/2026

🎃 Just in time for Halloween, costume season is officially here and San Diego Junior Theatre Auxiliary is opening the vault!

On Saturday, October 10, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., JT Auxiliary will take over the Casa del Prado Theatre in Balboa Park for its Annual Costume Sale.

Shoppers can dig through tons of costumes from JT’s vast archive, all priced to go, plus hundreds of brand-new Halloween costumes for kids of all ages and sizes for just $5 each!

👻 Whether the goal is spooky, silly, theatrical or totally unexpected, this is a great chance to find the perfect Halloween look before it disappears.

📍 Casa del Prado Theatre
1600 Village Place, Balboa Park
🌧️ Rain or shine

10/04/2026

📚☀️ Our libraries and recreation centers are stepping up for San Diego. With the extended heat warning continuing across the region, City of San Diego libraries and recreation centers are opening their doors as cooling centers, giving people a safe, air-conditioned place to get out of the heat.

Several library locations and all 10 designated recreation centers are open today, Sunday, October 4, from noon to 8 p.m.

It’s another reminder that libraries and neighborhood recreation centers are about so much more than books, programs and activities. They are important public spaces that communities can turn to when they need them most.

If you know someone who may need a place to cool down today, especially an older adult, family with young children or someone without reliable air conditioning, please share this information.

Find locations and additional heat resources at https://www.sandiego.gov/PlacesToCoolDown .

Thank you to the library, Parks and Recreation, outreach and City staff helping keep San Diegans safe this weekend. ❤️

10/03/2026

🎬 Speak up for San Diego’s film and entertainment industry!

On Tuesday, October 6, the County of San Diego Board of Supervisors will consider the San Diego Film Initiative Implementation Plan as Agenda Item 14.

This is an important opportunity for film workers, artists, creative professionals, labor partners and community supporters to make their voices heard.

You can provide in-person or virtual public comment, with up to one minute to speak in support of the initiative.

👉 Register here:
https://publiccomment.sandiegocounty.gov/PL82646

When registering:
• Select “Virtually” if participating online
• Choose Agenda Item 14: San Diego County Film Initiative Implementation Plan
• Indicate that you would like to speak

You can also participate by phone at 619-333-7780, no PIN required.

A stronger regional film industry means more opportunities for local crews, creatives, businesses and communities.

Register today and make your voice heard on October 6.

09/30/2026

A major change is coming to how the City of San Diego funds arts and culture.

The proposed new funding framework would reshape the application process, scoring system, funding categories, and how awards are calculated. These changes are rooted in years of community feedback and the goals of the City’s Creative City Cultural Plan.

For organizations that rely on City funding to support artists, staff, programs, and communities, understanding what is changing matters.

San Diego ART Matters has put together a plain-language breakdown of the proposed framework, including what applicants should know, what could improve, and where questions remain.

We will continue to follow the process closely, share updates, and make sure the experiences and concerns of San Diego’s creative community are heard by the City’s Commission for Arts and Culture and Cultural Affairs staff.

Read here our latest Advocacy eNews for the full breakdown at https://bit.ly/SDARTMatters_October2026_AdvocacyAlert.

Explore the latest arts advocacy news and get involved.