Arts Education Connection San Diego

In “The Most Expensive Mistake a City Can Make,” Claire Johnson, CEO of San Diego Magazine puts it plainly:

“Cutting arts and culture to ‘save money’ is one of the most expensive mistakes a city can make.”

As the Mayor's proposed FY27 budget would reduce arts and culture funding by more than 85%, Johnson challenges the premise behind the cuts: “Arts funding is not a luxury line item; it is economic stimulus.”

Read the full article at https://sandiegomagazine.com/features/the-most-expensive-mistake-a-city-can-make/

We couldn't be prouder of our partnership with the VAPA Foundation in doing this important work!

Extended illness can be deeply isolating for students, making it harder to feel connected to classmates, to learning, and to the simple joy of being part of a group. Through a collaboration with SDUSD’s Home/Hospital, and our arts partner, Arts Education Connection San Diego, students who are unable to attend school in person are still able to experience the comfort of creativity and the power of connection from home. As part of our SPARX program, these virtual classes offer a compassionate space where students can gather live with peers, build relationships, and take part in meaningful arts experiences in a way that feels safe, welcoming, and accessible. Arts Education Connection San Diego
https://vapafoundation.org/home-hospital-expressive-arts-program/

We’ve seen the recent quote from Timothée Chalamet saying:

"I don't want to be working in ballet or opera, or you know, things where it's like, 'Hey, keep this thing alive,' even though it's like, no one cares about this anymore."

From where we stand in arts education, we see something very different:an essential tool that challenges the misconception that the arts are no longer relevant or cared about.

Every day, we watch students discover dance, theatre, music, and visual art for the first time. We see their confidence grow, their creativity expand, and their connection to community deepen.

Opera and Ballet aren’t “dying.” They’re living traditions that thrive because artists, educators, and audiences care enough to keep creating, performing, and sharing them with the next generation.

At Arts Education Connection San Diego, we’re proud to stand with our colleagues across the arts who keep these art forms vibrant, evolving, and meaningful to students and communities across San Diego.

The arts matter. And the next generation is already proving it.
🎶🩰

For more than 60 years, women leaders, artists, and educators have helped ensure San Diego students have access to the arts through the work of Arts Education Connection San Diego.

Our mission:
To transform learning by bringing the joy and richness of the arts to schools and communities.

Through music, dance, theater, visual art, and literary arts, we help students build confidence, creativity, and connection.

Today, our work continues to grow beyond the classroom. In collaboration with our school and community programs, we are expanding into corporate creativity workshops, partnerships with veterans organizations, and public art experiences such as our Creative Café student exhibitions in local coffee shops, bringing the arts into workplaces, neighborhoods, and everyday spaces across San Diego.

Celebrate with us this March by supporting our Arts in Education Month fundraiser with Ponce's Mexican Restaurant where a portion of the proceeds helps bring arts education to everyone across San Diego County.

Women leading.
Students creating.
Communities thriving!Ponce's Mexican Restaurant,

We LOVE our partnership with Turnaround Arts California ❤️

We don’t have all the answers, but we know where to find them: in our community. 🤝

Solving the complex challenges facing public schools requires drawing on the expertise of everyone involved. A huge thank you to our arts partners for your collaboration, your brilliance, and your dedication to our schools. We are better, smarter, and more creative because we work together. 🎨

NorCal Arts Collaborations: Teachers and Artists Arts Education Connection San Diego

Tag a community member you’d like to say thank you to for their dedication 👇

We’re excited to share the third installment of our Creative Café Series! 🎨

This exhibition features powerful student artwork created through our partnership with Juvenile Court & Community Schools (JCCS).
Previously exhibited at the San Diego Central Library and the University Club Atop Symphony Towers, these works explore themes of identity, resilience, healing, and hope through sculpture, printmaking, mixed media, and poetry.

🖼️ Now on view through the end of February at Subterranean Coffee
📍3764 30th Street, San Diego, CA 92104

Join us for a public meet-and-greet on Thursday, February 12th, from 4- 6 p.m. at the café to experience the artwork in person, connect with our team, and learn more about AECSD’s arts education programs and community partnerships.

✨ All are welcome!

🎉 Happy 3-Year Work Anniversary, Kimi Acosta! 🎉
These three years at AECSD have flown by so quickly! As Kimi puts it:

“I have learned so much from such a hardworking and dedicated team. Being born and raised in San Diego, I take great pride in working with the staff, the teaching artists, and the members of the board to support arts education in our community. I look forward to seeing what comes next for our organization.”
And we couldn’t agree more. 💙

Kimi is truly an absolutely amazing coworker—thoughtful, dependable, and deeply committed to our mission. We are so grateful for everything she brings to Arts Education Connection San Diego and for the care she shows our community every single day.
Here’s to three incredible years and many more to come!

It’s Giving Tuesday!

Today is all about lifting up the organizations that strengthen our communities, like Arts Education Connection San Diego, which fosters community growth through arts education.

AECSD brings dance, theatre, music, literary arts, media arts, and visual arts directly into classrooms across San Diego County, empowering students to create, collaborate, and build confidence through the arts.

If you believe every child deserves access to creativity and meaningful learning experiences, your donation can create real change and inspire hope.
Please consider giving today.

Your support truly makes a difference.
Give here: https://bit.ly/49xmvqG