By SDCN Editor
San Diego, CA–The San Diego Regional Arts and Culture Coalition unveiled its new name and brand, San Diego ART Matters, at a special ceremony held at their new UC San Diego Park & Market headquarters.
The event, which coincided with Arts, Culture, and Creativity Month, marked a significant milestone in the organization’s evolution and commitment to supporting the arts in the region.
The decision to rebrand came after a comprehensive strategic planning process initiated by Executive Director Felicia Shaw, who was appointed to the role in January 2023. With the support of a grant from the Prebys Foundation, the coalition restructured its organization and identified a new name and four advocacy initiatives to better align with the community’s needs and the evolving creative sector.
“Thanks to the Prebys Foundation grant, we have been able to plan for the future with enhanced capacity and vision,” said Shaw. “Our new name and advocacy initiatives are the cornerstones of our work to support the arts throughout the region.”
The rebranding effort was also supported by Julie Baker, CEO of California for the Arts and California Arts Advocates, who attended the event. CFA successfully campaigned to declare April as Arts, Culture & Creativity Month in California in 2019. This year’s theme, “ART WORK is REAL WORK,” was highlighted throughout the celebration.
“The final step in our evolution is to adopt a new way of talking about who we are, what we do, and how we present ourselves to the public,” Shaw proclaimed.
“San Diego ART Matters: Advancing Arts & Culture Across the Region communicates our overarching value to the community and how we plan to work to shape our future. Our overall mission is to build a region where the arts can thrive,” said Bob Lehman, chair of the San Diego ART Matters Board.
In addition to the new name and brand, San Diego ART Matters has established a base camp at UCSD Park & Market downtown, providing a central office and meeting space for the organization. This move aims to position San Diego ART Matters as a major catalyst and convener in the arts and culture community, fostering partnerships, collaborations, and civic engagement.
The rebranding effort was developed with TR/PR Public Relations and DeMarco Design. Since its founding in 1989, the San Diego Regional Arts and Culture Coalition has been at the forefront of arts advocacy efforts, working tirelessly to ensure that art and culture in San Diego continue to thrive.
