Pacific Beach, long celebrated for its sun, surf, eating and drinking scene, could be embracing a new identity as a cultural destination.
The proposed Pacific Beach Arts Center that would be created by beautifulPB is poised to become the cornerstone of a blossoming arts district that blends public art, education and community engagement.
The nonprofit is dedicated to “improving the community through arts, mobility and green spaces” according to its website.
Michelle Sexton, who is in charge of the arts district project, said the idea for one began around 2018 or 2019 when beautifulPB launched its “Art in Place” initiative. This project transformed everyday objects like trash cans and mailboxes into colorful canvases, sparking interest in public art.
The initiative evolved into a mural project, which had residents and visitors tour various murals throughout the neighborhood. She said the mural project has been a success with two current murals on display in PB.
“We had a grant back in 2023 and this was in partnership with the San Diego Bird Alliance, and we brought two new murals in the middle of Pacific Beach which were highly visible,” Sexton said. “Those are highlighting local wildlife and natural beach scenery. One is at 1160 Garnet Street that is a beautiful seagull image. The other is at 4629 Cass Street called ‘Exploring our wild side.’”
According to Sexton, the nonprofit’s goal is to cultivate a vibrant arts scene that encourages locals and visitors to engage with art in everyday spaces. This vision includes transforming Garnet Avenue into a cultural corridor, where galleries, restaurants and public art installations coexist to offer a rich cultural experience.
The idea is still in its early stages, but beautifulPB and Sexton hope to take inspiration from other cities that have successfully integrated arts into downtown and business districts to attract locals and tourists alike.
“Something that our arts district committee is actively working on is bringing in those other partners,” Sexton said. “Right now, it’s the business district organization Discover PB and the PB Town Council. We want funding and community building, and we already see that happening. There is just an amazing groundswell of energy around this whole idea. So, the idea is being able to have a district down the business streets and a venue where we could culminate in having a monthly art tour where trolleys or bicycle tours could go out and explore different art installations.”
Central to this vision is the Pacific Beach Arts Center. While still in the planning stages, there is a venue in mind — the former YMCA at 4606 Ingraham Street — and the center would serve as a multipurpose space for artistic expression and community activities.
“This is a proud moment for Pacific Beach and is a testament to the power of local collaboration,” said beautifulPB President Ryan Stock. “The Arts Center will be a creative anchor for the community, where the spirit of PB shines through every art piece, performance and community gathering.”
Potential partners like the PB Women’s Club and the YMCA have shown interest in ing the project, recognizing the need for accessible arts education and community spaces. They envision the center offering after-school art classes, with the YMCA likely playing a role in programming. A pottery studio and theater program are also part of the plan, addressing the limited exposure to visual and performing arts currently available in local schools.
By supplementing school offerings, those involved said they hope the center provides students with opportunities for artistic exploration and expression.
Beyond youth programs, the center will also aim to provide daytime classes for seniors, veterans and other community , fostering a lifelong engagement with the arts. A developing network of local artists will be instrumental in leading weekend and evening classes, contributing to a dynamic and inclusive arts community.
“The mission of beautifulPB is to organize, revitalize and invigorate the local arts, cultural and entertainment life of Pacific Beach — a mission shared by the arts center,” Sexton said.
Community involvement is at the heart of this initiative. According to Sexton they are continually looking for local artists to the developing artist network who can potentially offer classes or be involved in art installation projects. Interested artists can get involved by visiting beautifulpb.com or emailing [email protected].
For example, the inaugural Doodle Night was held in April at barElla.
As the arts district project progresses, beautifulPB also wants to form advisory boards and committees to guide the development of the arts center, providing opportunities for community to actively participate in shaping the cultural future of Pacific Beach.
According to Sexton, beautifulPB envisions community advisory boards as well for community who are interested in ing the arts, even those who are not artists themselves to provide and management for the programs.
“It seems like a good time for people to do something good in their community and we are happy to provide that opportunity,” Sexton said.
Those involved said the PB Arts District and the PB Arts Center ideas seem to be gaining momentum and look probable to happen in the coming months and years. Together, they could help to centralize the Pacific Beach arts scene and bring attention to the importance of public art in the community.
For updates and details about various project aspects and events, visit beautifulpb.com/art-in-place-2021.
