VAEF Outreach | Art Education & Scholarships San Diego
Outreach Programs
IMAGINEWHAT YOUR
CONTRIBUTION
CAN CREATE!
D O N A T E
Tax-free donations will ensure the continuing success of our educational programs. We are an all-volunteer program dependent upon gifts and grants in order to provide necessary educational opportunities to the community of San Diego.
Your Gift Will:
- $50.00 – Will buy a round of art supplies for our summer camps or classes.
- $75.00 – Set a place at the table for a neighbor to explore their creativity.
- $100.00 – Ensure our master-level workshops remain accessible to local seniors
- $150.00 – Buy an “Art-Pass” for a local student to join our Youth Art Camps.
- $200.00 – Fuel a full afternoon of community workshops and creative discovery.
- $300.00 – Our “Studio Pillar” your gift will keep the center accessible to everyone.
- $350.00 – This is a legacy gift that changes the life of a young artist today.
- $400.00 – Village Patron: Directly funding a season of creative workshops.
- $______ – Name your heartfelt gift; every amount has the power to spark creativity.
Free School Field Trips on the patio of the Village Arts Center
Students from San Diego schools experience making art with local artists in a day of fun and learning in this iconic setting. Village Arts Center history is explored. Students create hands-on in a variety of art media. Art projects will be taken home.
Unique Art Classes for Individuals with Special Needs
We welcome children or adults who would like to experience creating art in small groups to facilitate special needs.
Scholarships to Summer Camps for Under-served Community Members
Each summer, a number of scholarships are awarded to children and adults who demonstrate a financial need to attend VAEF five-day summer camp.
Get in touch with
Drop Us a Line
*If you are a San Diego County artist and are interested in becoming an artist of Village Arts Center, please refer to the Become An Artist page of this site.
Stay current with our artists and their amazing work!
By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: Village Arts and Education Foundation, 1770 Village Place, Balboa Park, San Diego, CA, 92101, https://villageartscenter.org/. You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact
Location
Village Arts Center
1770 Village Place
Balboa Park
San Diego, CA 92101
Hours
Open every day:
11:00am - 4:00pm.
7 days a week.
Closed:
Thanksgiving, Christmas, & New Year's Day
The office is located in Studio 18
619 233-9050
Gift Certificates!
Want to give the gift of art classes or camps with your friends and family? Village Arts Center gift certificates are available. Contact us for more details
Thanks for stopping by.
Village Arts and Education Foundation
Our Mission
To develop artists and supporters of the visual arts through demonstration, education, and outreach with innovative programs and partnerships reaching out to schools, businesses, government and global community.
Our Vision
Develop community involvement, awareness, and advocacy by providing community outreach programs and regular art exhibitions. To be recognized as a visual arts leader in San Diego by expanding regional recognition of Village Arts Center and fostering growth of visual artists. To become a primary resource for art education and promote the visual arts in the community.
Value Statement
Community Leadership
Art is our passion, and we are equally passionate about sharing the art experience with the community.
Inspiration and Education
We seek to inspire and educate people of all ages and backgrounds in the visual arts.
Get in touch with
Drop Us a Line
*If you are a San Diego County artist and are interested in becoming an artist of Village Arts Center, please refer to the Become An Artist page of this site.
Stay current with our artists and their amazing work!
By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: Village Arts and Education Foundation, 1770 Village Place, Balboa Park, San Diego, CA, 92101, https://villageartscenter.org/. You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact
Location
Village Arts Center
1770 Village Place
Balboa Park
San Diego, CA 92101
Hours
Open every day from 11:00am - 4:00pm.
7 days a week.
Closed:
Thanksgiving, Christmas, & New Year's Day
The office is located in Studio 18
619-709-3540
Gift Certificates!
Want to share our art with your friends and family? We have Village Arts Center Gift Certificates available. Contact us for more details
Thanks for stopping by.
Contact Us | (619) 233-9050 | Village Arts Center San Diego
Contact Us
Drop Us a Line
*If you are a San Diego County artist and are interested in becoming an artist of Village Arts Center, please refer to the Become An Artist page of this site.
Stay current with our artists and their amazing work!
By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: Village Arts and Education Foundation, 1770 Village Place, Balboa Park, San Diego, CA, 92101, https://villageartscenter.org/. You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact
Incident Report
If an incident has occurred, and you would like to report it to the Village Arts Center, please click on the button below. The link will take you to the Village Arts Center Incident Report form. Once you fill it out, a member of the village will contact you within 24 hours.
Location
Village Arts Center
1770 Village Place
Balboa Park
San Diego, CA 92101
Hours
Open every day:
11:00am - 4:00pm.
7 days a week.
Closed:
Thanksgiving, Christmas, & New Year's Day
The office is located in Studio 18
619-709-3540
Click here to Donate
Tax-free donations will ensure the continuing success of our educational programs. We are an all-volunteer program dependent upon gifts and grants in order to provide necessary educational opportunities to the community of San Diego.
Gift Certificates!
Want to share our art with your friends and family? We have Village Arts Center Gift Certificates available. Contact us for more details
Thanks for stopping by.
Guideline for Professional Photo Shoots
- Professional Photographers planning to take photographs in Spanish Village should first apply for a permit at Balboa Park Administration Building, 2125 Park Blvd., San Diego, CA (rear of building, outside door #1).
- The City of San Diego prohibits taking photographs in front of any open Village doorway, as their purpose is to allow the public to enter freely throughout the day.
- Taking photographs of artists work is also expressly prohibited.
- Please bring your own props.
- Planters, benches, tables and chairs are for patrons use only.
Join San Diego's Largest Artist Community | Apply to VAC Studios
Interested in Becoming a Village Artist?
Village Arts Center in Balboa Park welcomes individuals wishing to be a part of the largest artist community in San Diego!
Become a Village Arts Center Artist!!
Your next creative chapter starts here. We open applications for new artists several times a year. Keep this page on your radar for our next call for entries!
The Jury Application Period OpensOn Sunday, November 1, 2026
- Jury Date: Saturday, January 23, 2027
- Last Day to Apply: Friday, January 8, 2027
Eligibility:
All artists living in San Diego County are eligible. Prospective artists must provide the following information along with the application:
- 3 small photographs representing the work to be judged. Those artists who are already Village Arts Center artists must submit photos of the new work to be judged.
- Proof that the artist is at least 18 years of age; i.e. valid CA driver’s license or ID card with a copy of the same. Make sure the birthdate is legible in the copy.
- Proof of residency in San Diego County (utility bill or other proof of residency) with a copy of the same.
Benefits Include:
- Being a part of our community of artists to share creativity and knowledge.
- Free use of our patio space for booth setup to show and sell your artwork.
- Exhibit at the December Nights Event, with attendance of over 300,000, offering great exposure.
- Access to studio space either as a lease holder or studio partner.
- And much more!
Have Questions?
For more information, contact us using the email form below. If you complete the email form, we’ll drop you a note as soon as we can.
We are looking forward to hearing from you.
Stay current with our artists and their amazing work!
By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: Village Arts and Education Foundation, 1770 Village Place, Balboa Park, San Diego, CA, 92101, https://villageartscenter.org/. You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact
Village Arts Center
Village Arts Center is a collection of working art studios established in 1938 by the San Diego City Council to make the creation of art visible to the public. Village Arts Center continues today as a non-profit 501(c)3 organization under the Village Arts and Education Foundation (VAEF), relying on donations, grants and artist participation in its direction and programs. As part of Village Arts Center’s agreement with the City of San Diego, the organization maintains open-house studios where artists create and demonstrate their technique(s) to the public. Village Arts Center artists are required to work in the studios and are only privileged to exhibit and sell the works created in the medium (or media) that they were juried in with.
About Village Arts Center | San Diego's Premier Artist Community
About The Village Arts Center
Established in 1936, The Village Arts Center, in Balboa Park, is San Diego’s premiere artist collective. Located in historic Spanish Village, between the NAT and the Zoo, we are a community of working local artists creating art…year round…right before your eyes!
While our location and architecture are distinctly old-world, our art is not. Most noteworthy is that The Village Arts Center, boasts over 200 living, contemporary artists from diverse backgrounds, experiences and art forms with patrons worldwide. Independently juried and award-winning painters, sculptors, metalsmiths, jewelry designers, clay, gourd, fiber, mixed media, glass, enamel, leather and digital artists along with photographers, printmakers and many more will be creating art in the Village on any given day!
Our Mission...
Our primary goal is to share our passion for art and our personal creative journeys. We warmly invite you to visit our studios and observe artists at work. Feel free to ask questions and even interact with our art pieces. We offer a variety of art for sale, from small works to large-scale pieces.
Our studios are open to the public free of charge, seven days a week from 11 AM to 4 PM. If you’re a San Diego County resident, you’re eligible to become an artist of our renowned artist collective. For more information, please visit our Become An Artist page.
History of theVillage Arts Center
Built in 1935 for the second California Exposition, Spanish Village depicted a quaint town complete with restaurants, shops, cantinas, and an open courtyard. Many structures built for this Exposition were to be temporary. Consequently, in 1936, after the event drew to a close, some exhibits were slated for demolition. At that time, a group of visionary local artists approached the city with a proposal to convert the buildings in Spanish Village into working art studios. In exchange, the artists agreed to provide community outreach both to other local artists and the public. As a result, local artists have an affordable place to work, show and sell in a creative environment. In addition, the artists of the Village Arts Center open their studio doors to the public…offering them the rare opportunity to watch the artists at work.
The Village...
The Village Arts Center has remained open to the public for nearly 80 years, closing only for a short time during World War II, when the military occupied much of Balboa Park. Over the years, thousands of dedicated artists have been a part of this artist collective. While cosmetic changes have been made to the Village…adding beautiful trees and flowers, brightly colored doorways and the signature painted patio tiles… The Village Art Center’s mission remains the same. We invite you, the public, into our studios to watch artists at work, and we continue to welcome new artists to join us. So come visit us and share our passion for art! We are open 7 days a week, 11am to 4pm, free of charge.
Did You Know?
San Diego Artists continue to preserve and enhance its beauty as a historical landmark by adding to its charm by making each of the studios unique entryways individual, as is all of the artwork, and allowing the main patios to be rented for most special events. It is a favorite location for both professional and amateur photographers.
Board of Directors 2023-24
Executive Board
- Nancy Scheuermann – Director
- Frank Casciani – Deputy Director
- Susan Bindford – Treasurer
- Maureen King – Secretary
- Natasha Papousek – Corresponding Secretary
- Gail Woods – Director of Licensure & Permits
Committee Chairpeople
- Amy Sommerville – Jury of New Artists
- Ana Garcia – Co-Chair
- John Robert Goforth – Co-Chair
- RD Riccoboni – Electric
- Peggy Caballero – Resolutions
- Ramona McNamee – Patio Maintenance
- Vicky DeLong – Village Arts Outreach Gallery
- Vicky DeLong – Director of Summer Camps & Education
Parks & Rec.
- Victor Johnson – Parks and Recreation Manager
Get in touch
Drop Us a Line
*If you are a San Diego County artist and are interested in becoming an artist of Village Arts Center, please refer to the Become An Artist page of this site.
Stay current with our artists and their amazing work!
By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: Village Arts and Education Foundation, 1770 Village Place, Balboa Park, San Diego, CA, 92101, https://villageartscenter.org/. You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact
Location
Village Arts Center
1770 Village Place
Balboa Park
San Diego, CA 92101
Hours
Open every day:
11:00am - 4:00pm.
7 days a week.
Closed:
Thanksgiving, Christmas, & New Year's Day
The office is located in Studio 18
619-233-9050
Gift Certificates!
Want to share our art with your friends and family? Village Arts Center Gift Certificates are available. Contact us for more details
Thanks for stopping by.
Village Arts Center | 236 Working Artists in Balboa Park, San Diego
Come See Masterpieces in the Making
Take a stroll through our historic working studios featuring over 200 local artists of all different mediums.
Free admission, priceless experience.
Artists at Work
The Village Arts Center studios are filled with working artists, with a variety of demonstrations in progress daily. Come watch art in action every day!
Art Classes
Looking for a more hands-on experience? Working artists at the Village Arts Center want to share their love of art with you. Check out our classes today!
Special Events
Enjoy live art demonstrations, stroll through artist guild shows and sales, or enjoy refreshments while mingling with our talented artists at one of our many yearly events!
What's Happening at the Village Arts Center
Come celebrate art with us and enjoy our fun events at the Village Arts Center! Live demonstrations, classes, camps and sales!
Showcase your work.
Apply today to be a part of our upcoming season.
Seeking San Diego County Artists! The Village Arts Outreach Gallery is now accepting applications for its 2027 Annual Exhibit Calendar. We are looking for diverse, high-quality work from talented artists in our community.
Application period: September 3 – November 15
Ready to take the next step? Click the button below to fill out the application form.
Glass Show & Patio Sale
Art Glass Guild
Saturday & Sunday | October 10 & 11 | 10am-4pm
VAEF CLASSES
Make Something This Year
Village Arts & Education Foundation offers hands-on art classes in the heart of Balboa Park, all year round. Learn from working San Diego artists in small, friendly classes for every level, from first-time beginners to seasoned makers. Choose a single afternoon workshop or a multi-week course in painting, drawing, clay, mixed media, and more. New classes are added throughout the year, so there is always something fresh to try.Every summer and fall, our week-long art camps take over Studio 40 and the Back Patio. Each camp runs Monday through Friday, mornings from 9 to noon, and every day brings a different artist and a different medium. Campers might go from leather to bronze metal clay to handmade books in a single week. Camps are grouped by age (Kids 7 to 9, Kids 10 to 12, Teens 13 to 17, and Adults) and limited to 15 students so everyone gets real attention.
Browse and register online in just a few clicks. No account needed.
36
STUDIOS
236
ARTISTS
4,000,000
HAPPY VISITORS
Balboa Park
The Village Arts Center is a proud member of the Balboa Park Cultural Partnership, a collaboration of 26 arts, science, and cultural institutions in San Diego’s Balboa Park. Learn more at www.bpcp.org
Be Inspired. Visit the Village Arts Outreach Gallery.
Discover art that inspires at the Village Arts Outreach Gallery. Our gallery is dedicated to showcasing the work of emerging and established San Diego County artists across all disciplines, from painting and sculpture to digital media and beyond. Whether you are an art lover, a collector, or simply curious, there is always something fresh and exciting on display. The gallery is open daily from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and admission is free. Visit the Outreach Gallery website to explore current and upcoming exhibitions and plan your visit today.
Get in touch
Drop Us a Line
*If you are a San Diego County artist and are interested in becoming an artist of the Village Arts Center, please refer to the Become An Artist page of this site.
Stay current with our artists and their amazing work!
By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: Village Arts and Education Foundation, 1770 Village Place, Balboa Park, San Diego, CA, 92101, https://villageartscenter.org/. You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact
Location
The Village Arts Center
1770 Village Place
Balboa Park
San Diego, CA 92101
Hours
Open every day from 11:00am - 4:00pm.
7 days a week.
Closed:
Thanksgiving, Christmas, & New Year's Day
The office is located in Studio 18
619-709-3540
Click here to Donate
Tax-free donations will ensure the continuing success of our educational programs. We are an all-volunteer program dependent upon gifts and grants in order to provide necessary educational opportunities to the community of San Diego.
Gift Certificates!
Want to share our art with your friends and family? Village Arts Center Gift Certificates are available. Contact us for more details
Thanks for stopping by.