Arts and Culture Citywide Impact

City investment in arts and culture supports cultural participation, creative jobs, artist and cultural worker income, neighborhood activity, tourism, and economic activity throughout San Diego. This page brings together maps and research that help residents, applicants, partners, and decision makers understand that impact.

Recent Impact Reported by City-Funded Organizations

Based on FY2025 reporting, City funded OSP and CCSD organizations supported a workforce ecosystem with more than $260 million in payroll, more than 15,000 paid individuals, and more than 25,000 volunteers. More than 5 million reported admissions were free, representing nearly half of total reported admissions across the programs.

Using FY2025 recipient data and an updated Arts and Economic Prosperity model, approximately $11.6 million in City investment supported an estimated $937 million in combined organizational and audience spending, $214 million in total tax revenue, and nearly $28 million in local tax revenue. For every $1 in City investment, the analysis estimated $33.65 in economic activity and $7.70 in tax revenue.

Explore the Data

• City of San Diego Arts and Economic Prosperity 6 Report
• Americans for the Arts AEP6 National Study

Arts and Culture Citywide Impact Map