During the cultural planning process, the City engaged nearly 1,800 people across 70 events and activities. We spoke with residents from all through the city, artists, transborder artists, creatives, culture and community leaders, for-profits arts and creative industries, nonprofit arts and cultural industry, arts adjacent sectors, City stakeholders, and regional stakeholders.

What we heard was clear. Arts and culture are in San Diego’s DNA. They bring together people and highlight the many traditions, ecologies, and practices of a highly diverse population. San Diegans participate in arts and culture at high levels, attending festivals, concerts, museums, and galleries, as well as expressing their personal creativity personally or in community. The creative workforce itself is high-achieving and diverse.

However, Creative City arrives at a critical moment for San Diego and is a call to action. The creative and cultural sectors face mounting challenges that threaten their sustainability - making it imperative to have a solutions-oriented plan.

Developed through extensive and inclusive public engagement, Creative City envisions:

San Diego is a dynamic creative and cultural hub that celebrates self-expression, empowering individuals to explore their artistic passions and forge the creative life of their choosing. Creativity is embraced as foundational to the health and well-being of the city. Artists and creatives in all fields are acknowledged and supported for their essential roles in the economy and their communities. Arts and culture are invested in for their economic power. The city is globally renowned for its diverse and innovative artistic communities. Read the Creative City plan and learn about its goals and strategies.