With support from the California Arts Council, Rising Arts Leaders Of San Diego will serve early and mid-career arts and culture professionals with programs and resources that support individual professional and leadership development in San Diego County and neighboring regions.
Advocacy – The Rising Arts Leaders of San Diego Steering Committee and membership have been vocal supporters of city funding for arts organizations in San Diego. We also support and elevate the voices and practices of local artists through our annual Arts Fest event and our Artist Toolbox online interview series.
Professional Development – Rising Arts Leaders of San Diego provides our members with various leadership and professional development opportunities throughout the year. Formally, RALSD produces one such event per quarter. The fall quarter event is registered as a “Creative Conversation” through the Americans for the Arts Emerging Leaders Network in an effort to connect with Emerging Leaders across the nation. Through our Steering Committee, RALSD is connected to a number of professional associations in San Diego, and we leverage these relationships to keep our members informed of additional opportunities in the community as well.
Networking – Rising Arts Leaders of San Diego provides informal networking opportunities through happy hours, mixers, and arts events on a monthly basis at various locations throughout San Diego and online.
Grants – Twice a year, Rising Arts Leaders of San Diego provides “Quick Grants” to individual Rising Arts Leaders members to fund professional development and leadership opportunities that will aid in their career growth. In 2020, we introduced an Emergency Response Fund that made unrestricted micro-grants to members in need as well as an Artist Supplies Fund that allowed members to receive goods from a wish list to complete their works in progress.

