San Diego Magazine / August 2005 / For Art's Sake

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For Art's Sake

SAN DIEGO DOESN’T GET THE CREDIT it deserves in the arts and culture department. A recent survey by Forbes ranked San Diego ninth among the 10 best places to be rich in the United States—lower than San Jose and Las Vegas because we “didn’t score particularly well in the culture or charity departments.” Did the editors actually spend time at any of our 104 theaters?

I find San Diego to have a thriving, robust arts scene— and I’ve been a resident for only two years. I’ve learned San Diego is a great place to establish a nonprofit theater group (I founded Mo‘olelo Performing Arts Company) and to experience provocative, entertaining, top-notch productions on par with Chicago and New York. I say this after happily living the actor’s life in New York City.

According to The San Diego Union-Tribune, the county’s top 25 theaters have a combined annual budget of $100 million (nearly twice that of the Padres) and drew more than 2 million patrons last year (four times what the Chargers do, in most years) to 246 productions and 4,600 performances. According to the City of San Diego Commission for Arts and Culture, 16,078 volunteers donated their time to the 86 city-supported arts and cultural organizations last year. Individuals contributed $23 million in 2004 to these same organizations—an increase from $20.3 million in 2003.

We all know of the Broadway musicals that originated in San Diego (35 Tony Awards have gone to directors and shows produced at the Old Globe or La Jolla Playhouse). But the small theaters also are creating new works that “have legs” and move on to productions across the country. Remains, which Mo‘olelo developed as its inaugural show last year, has gone on to Chicago and San Francisco and will receive a full production at Saint Mary’s University in Minnesota in 2006. While these performances aren’t on Broadway, they still serve as cultural ambassadors for San Diego.

So while San Diego’s sports, sun and sand receive national attention, it is also the arts that contribute to the coveted quality of life here. In the KPBS/Competitive Edge Research Spring 2005 Public Art Poll, 89.5 percent of those surveyed agree the arts improve the quality of life in the community; 56.8 percent said they would be willing to pay $5 more in local taxes if the money would go directly to the arts.

Stephanie Casenza, executive director of the San Diego Performing Arts League (SDPAL), agrees that “We have an incredible arts and culture community here, but they get overshadowed by our weather and our emphasis on sports.” SDPAL has 140 music, dance, theater and museum member organizations that are producing quality arts programs and striving to expand San Diego’s “creative class” through educational and community outreach.

I do agree somewhat with Forbes’ comment about San Diego’s lack of charity. Only 14.8 percent of those in the KPBS poll donated money to an arts organization during the past year. Still, that’s a trend I know the arts community can reverse. San Diego is a place where arts organizations can indeed thrive. The Old Globe is celebrating its 70th anniversary season this year, the San Diego Opera just completed its 40th, and Diversionary and Sledgehammer Theatres are both celebrating their 20th.

Every day I am inspired by my colleagues in San Diego’s arts community. From the important outreach by Eveoke Dance Theatre to the cutting-edge films screened at the San Diego Asian Film Festival, there is art and culture all around San Diego.

© 2006 San Diego Magazine