City of San Diego Commission for Arts and Culture Announces Public Workshops on Funding Programs

 The City of San Diego Commission for Arts and Culture (Commission) announces workshops in September and October to inform the public about the application and review processes for FY 2011 funding for arts and culture programs. The City supports art and culture through two programs that provide funding to nonprofit organizations through a competitive review process – the Organizational Support Program (OSP) and the Creative Communities San Diego Program (CCSD).

 The OSP provides general operating support, including administrative as well as artistic expenses, for organizations whose mission and goals are substantially aligned with the City of San Diego Commission for Arts and Culture. These organizations foster the stabilization and diversification of San Diego’s cultural base, enhance the quality of life in the city’s neighborhoods and pursue the vision of San Diego as a tourism destination.

 OSP workshops will be held on Wednesday, September 9, 2009, 2:30 – 4:30 PM in City Council District 1 at the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, Coast Room, 700 Prospect Street, La Jolla, CA 92037 and Thursday, September 10, 2009, 2:30 – 4:30 PM in City Council District 6 at the City of San Diego Ridgeview Training Facility, 9601 Ridgehaven Court, San Diego, CA 92123.

 The CCSD Program supports projects that provide access and increase opportunities for San Diego residents and visitors to participate in arts and culture and to exercise their creative abilities. These projects enrich the lives of the people of San Diego and build healthy, vital neighborhoods. CCSD projects include, but are not limited to festivals, parades and other annual celebrations, and a broad range of activities and events that enable diverse populations to engage in quality arts and culture experiences together.

 CCSD workshops will be held on Wednesday, September 30, 2009, 2:30 – 4:30 PM, in City Council District 6 at the Mission Valley Library, 2123 Fenton Parkway, San Diego, CA 92108 and on Thursday, October 1, 2009, 2:30 – 4:30 PM in City Council District 4 at the Valencia Park/Malcolm X Library, 5148 Market Street, San Diego, CA 92114.

 FY11 Applications and Guidelines will be distributed at the workshops or may be downloaded from the Commission’s website after August 26, 2009 for OSP and after September 16, 2009 for CCSD: www.sandiego.gov/arts-culture/. Workshop topics will include eligibility requirements, eligible programs and services, how to apply, funding restrictions, and matching requirements. Funding is for projects and programming that will occur between July 1, 2010 and June 30, 2011.

 Complete applications must be received in the Commission’s office or postmarked by October 23, 2009 for OSP and November 20, 2009 for CCSD. Contact Gary Margolis at (619) 236-6788 or gmargolis@sandiego.gov for more information or to RSVP.