The Commission for Arts and Culture provides leadership, services, and support for advancing arts, culture, and creativity throughout San Diego. Established in 1988, the Commission for Arts and Culture is an agency of the City of San Diego, the 2nd largest city in California and 8th in the United States.

The Commission for Arts and Culture is a volunteer body comprised of 15 volunteers. Nine members are appointed by and represent a City Council district, and Mayor appoints the remainder. The body’s mission is to promote, encourage, and increase support for the region’s artistic and cultural assets, integrate arts and culture into community life, and showcase San Diego as an international cultural destination.

The arts and culture office referred to as “the Commission,” has a professional staff of 7 and is housed in the Neighborhood Services branch – along with Parks & Recreation, Special Events & Film, Libraries, and Immigrant Affairs – organized together to advance the civic life of San Diego. Commission works closely across all city departments, including economic and workforce development, to center arts, culture, and creativity as a key tool to advance the larger city priorities, functioning within guiding principles of equity for all.

The Commission has functioned as San Diego County’s CAC state-local partner (SLP) for nearly 30 years, providing countywide support and leadership. In this role, staff and Commission members work across the entire county with multiple local arts agencies, county government, arts service agencies, community development, workforce development agencies, social services, and border-focused organizations. As the SLP, the Commission recognizes and builds programs to reflect the region of 7.1 million comprised of San Diego city and county and northern Baja California, Tijuana. The binational region is inextricably linked by arts and culture, particularly individual artists and culture bearers.