Today’s newsletter is presented by addressSD.com.
Hello, Downtown!
Quartyard in East Village is giving people the chance to publicly answer the question: “What is art to you?”
The popular event venue/urban park created an interactive installation on its public facing wall at 1301 Market St. Chalk is provided for people to write their answers.
This type of friendly provocation is on-brand with Quartyard’s year-round hipster vibe. You might see something similar throughout the year. But this isn’t any ordinary time. The local arts and culture community is facing drastic budget cuts from the city of San Diego. Mayor Todd Gloria has proposed chopping off nearly $12 million in funding (85% of the total arts and culture budget).
“A thriving arts community is essential to a world-class city,” Quartyard Managing Partner Justin Navalle said. “It’s how our city connects and defines [itself].”
Navalle believes every local voice can amplify the importance of art and creative expression. Those are cornerstones of community identity, he added.
To participate, grab a piece of supplied chalk and write your thoughts on the installation. Participants are encouraged to take photos or videos of their contributions and share them on social media.
The installation will occasionally be erased to start over with fresh space for people’s thoughts on what art is to them. Recent contributions have included: “ A gift from God,” “Something that moves me” and “The window 2 your soul.”
The city’s proposed budget is set for possible revisions on May 13. The fiscal budget must be finalized on June 9.
Ron Donoho
Downtown News newsletter host
Downtown story spotlight
Historic Little Italy church throws stones at State Street bike lane
By Drew Sitton • Times of San Diego
A Little Italy church says a freshly-installed bike lane in front of its church doors is preventing churchgoers from accessing the place of worship, as well as hearses from parking in front of the church for pallbearers to load and unload coffins following funeral services.
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