PACIFIC BEACH – A nonprofit has long-range plans to re-purpose a long-vacant building in Pacific Beach, transforming it into an arts center and community hub.
The goal of grassroots group
beautifulPB
, which is committed to forming a more sustainable and equitable community by promoting arts, mobility, and green spaces, is to turn the former Pacific Beach Library building across from Trader Joe’s at 4606 Ingraham St. into the home base and gateway for the new PB Arts District.
-
Ingraham Street
From 1951 to 1997, the library operated out of that site before moving to its location at 4275 Cass St.
Earlier this year, beautifulPB launched the
PB Arts District
in the community, which is presently home to more than 50 murals, sculptures, and utility box art, all part of the PB Murals program. Finding a home for the PB Arts District is one of the key next steps in the formation process.
Collaborating with the San Diego Unified School District, the YMCA, and Pacific Beach Woman’s Club, beautifulPB hopes to realize the dream of creating a PB Community Arts Center.
According to Michelle Sexton, spokesperson for the PB Arts District, what’s needed now is to find the funding — and do the planning — necessary to transform the former library’s mid-century modern structure on the southeast corner of the PB Middle School campus into something fit to serve the artistic needs of the community.
The origin of the PB Arts District began several years ago when beautifulPB launched “Art in Place,” a community art initiative to consciously integrate art into the community.
“The murals project and painting electrical boxes were part of Art in Place,” said Sexton.
Discussing the motivation behind creating the arts district and center, Sexton noted: “We wanted an opportunity to do something good in the world and bring our community together. Art is something that can do that. And it’s non-denominational, non-partisan, and everybody can enjoy it.”
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Characterizing PB as something of an “arts desert,” Sexton added, “We’re interested in beautifying PB, not only visually but also culturally. We want to localize art opportunities, bringing artists together to work with businesses to display art. We’ve just never had anything like that in PB.”
Asked what’s going to be in an arts center, Sexton replied: “We’re in the beginning stage of the visioning. It will be pretty much a wide-open space with some movable types of (room) dividers to segment it, making performance space available.
“We’re also planning on activating an outdoor space behind the building where, eventually, we may have more studio space for artists. We want to champion our local artists and allow them to perform, display, and teach their art to the community.”
Sexton added that plans for the arts center include creating a kitchen to facilitate culinary arts instruction. “Right now, we’re in the process of developing an artists’ network,” she said. “We’re putting out a call to anybody who considers themselves an artist, so that we can feature them on a webpage business directory.”
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Of “reawakening” what she referred to as a “deserted space” at the former library, Sexton said, “We want to do some needed repairs and clean it up and get it ready to be inhabited.”
Regarding the timing of the long-term PB Arts Center project, Sexton pointed out that beautifulPB has applied for a grant from the Prebys Foundation, which partners with civic leaders to transform San Diego County through the arts, healthcare, medical research, and youth success.
The nonprofit is eligible for a grant from the Prebys Foundation. “That grant, if awarded, is up to $250,000,” said Sexton.
“If we get the Prebys grant, they want the space activated within one year,” Sexton added.
“Our goal right now is to try and reopen the doors of the new arts center for school programming beginning in January. We hope that we’ll be hosting our first large-scale art event there by next spring.”
