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Department of Cultural Affairs

Funding

Children's Museum
© New Children's Museum

San Diego Cultivates a Dynamic Arts Ecosystem by Supporting Nonprofits

Creativity and the arts play an important role in enhancing the quality of life in San Diego. One of the ways the Commission for Arts and Culture cultivates a dynamic arts ecosystem and promotes greater cultural participation and engagement is through the funding of projects and organizations. These funds, awarded to nonprofits through competitive application processes, make meaningful impacts in communities and expand access to arts and culture throughout the city.

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The City’s fiscal year (FY) runs from July 1 to June 30. Annually, the Commission recommends to the Mayor and City Council the award of funding for general operating support and project-specific support for San Diego's nonprofit arts and culture organizations. These funds are awarded through two competitive processes: Organizational Support Program (OSP) and Creative Communities San Diego (CCSD). The source of this funding is Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT), a tax levied on individuals who stay overnight in hotels, motels, and other lodging establishments. Council Policy 100-03 governs the use of TOT money and, in accordance with the policy, a portion of the City’s TOT revenue is intended to be used to: enhance the economy; contribute to San Diego’s national and international reputation as a cultural destination; provide access to excellence in culture and the arts for residents and visitors; enrich the lives of the people of San Diego; and build healthy, vital neighborhoods. Through the Arts Education Enrichment Initiative, the City supports project collaborations between nonprofit organizations, artists and youth.

San Diego Art Institute Education - Photo: Tim Hardy

Courtesy San Diego Arts Institute / 
Photo © Tim Hardy    

Mingei Museum

Courtesy Mingei International Museum /   
Photo © Anthony Scoggins