Most people think of San Diego as a sunny beach city, full of surfers, bikinis, suntans and luxury cars. All of which may or may not be true, depending on your view. One thing that everyone agrees on is that San Diego is also home to a thriving art community.

San Diego and it's villages are a perfect respite from the tourist laden sights to take some time, wander through some galleries...sip some wine...grab a couple hour d'oeuvres and maybe, just maybe find that piece of art you have been looking for!

Reoccurring Weekly Visual Art Events :

• Old Town Artisan Market - every Saturday from 9 to 4 call 858.272.7054 – Free!
• Listen to ART ROCKS! RADIO weekly on the internet
• Shelter Island Art Association Sat and Sunday from 9 to 4 - Free
• SD County Art Mart Association Second and Fourth full weekends 9 to 4, corner of Pan American Boulevard and Presidents' Way, Balboa Park

Reoccurring Monthly Art Events:

• Art Connection 2nd Saturday Escondido Art Walk - Second Saturday of the month – Free!
• Ray at Night - 2nd Saturday of every month from 6 to 9 – Free!
• Vista Outdoor Art show - 2nd Sunday of the month from 10 to 5 – Free!
• TNT at MCASD - 1st Thursdays Downtown Free ($3 donation suggested)
• Cedros Design District - 3rd Thursday of every month – Free!
• Lux at Night - third Wednesday of the month
• Children’s Museum/ Museo de los Niños San Diego. - Campaign Cocktails, 3rd Thursday at Laurel and Chive Restaurants
• Pop Thursdays at MOPA - four 3rd Thursdays a year combine film with a party
• Art in the Park - 4th Thursday of every month Spanish Village and many museums open from 5:30 until.....
• San Diego Watercolor Society at NTC - 1st Friday of every month a new exhibition of members is open to the public
• TADD (The Art And Design District) - formerly Kettner (KADD), presents Kettner Nights. check site or call 619.546.5121 or email info@taddsd.com Occurs about every 6 weeks and always on Fridays
• Arts on the Plaza – La Costa Resort and Spa in La Costa
• Culture and Cocktails - San Diego Museum of Art
• First Friday Art Event - Downtown El Cajon Community Development Corp at Arts Alley
• Newport Nights Art/Music Walk, Oceanbeach, 4th Saturday of each month
• South Park Walk About -.Held quarterly (Apr,Jul,Oct,Dec)
  
  
  Reoccurring Yearly Art Events:

• Art Walk in Little Italy -  April
• Oceanside Days of Art  -  April
• Encinitas Street Faire - April
• Fallbrook Avocado Festival - April
• Taste of the Art Festival  -  May
• North Park Festival of the Arts - May
• Surfrider Foundation Art Gala - May
• Bernardo Winery Spring Arts & Crafts Fair - May
• SD Art Prize - June
• La Jolla Festival of the Arts  - June
• Arts Alive Encinitas  -  Banners Auction June
• Vista Harvest Fair - June
• Art Walk at the Forum, Carlsbad  -  June
• Alley Cat Art Walk - El Cajon between Main St and Rea Avenue - July
• American Indian Fair at the Museum of Man- July
• Annual Glass show, Art Center at Fallbrook - July
• Alley Cat Art Walk, Sophies Art Gallery - July
• Carlsbad Art in the Village - August
• LeucadiART Walk - August
• Fiesta del Sol San Diego - August
• Evenings in the East Village - August
• Art Splash – Carlsbad Arts Festival  -  September  
• Art Festival of Old Town San Diego - September
• University Heights Arts Open - September
• Menghini Winery Fine Art, Wine and Music Festival - Julian, September
• Art Walk on the Bay - September
• Imperial Beach Art Walk - September  
• Chalk La Strada – Little Italy  -  October
• ARTWAVE - La Jolla  -  October and November
• San Diego Arts Festival, San Diego Convention Center - November
  
  Reoccurring Major Annual Juried Exhibitions:

• The Carlsbad-Oceanside Art League's Annual Children's Art Show - Coal Gallery  -  February
• Art Of Photography Show - April  -  May  
• California Center for the Arts, Escondido - July - September
• San Diego County Fair  - June - July
• Athenaeum Music and Arts Library Annual Juried Exhibition - August
• The Carlsbad-Oceanside Art League's Annual Open Juried Show - August , Coal Gallery 
• University Heights Arts Open - August
• Art of Digital Show - October
• SD Watercolor Society International Exhibition - October
• San Diego Art Institute – Museum of the Living Artist - International Exhibition and Southern California Regional Juried Award – October
• Oceanside Museum of Art Regional Biennial – November
• Art Glass Association of Southern California, Gallery 21 Spanish Village, Balboa Park -November
• Festival of the Arts, San Diego Museum of Art Artist Guild - November
• William D. Cannon Art Gallery, Carlsbad - Juried Biennial – December of odd years

Ongoing Juried Exhibitions:

• Escondido Art Partnership at the Escondido Municipal Gallery
• La Jolla Art Association at the Village Gallery
• San Diego Watercolor Society at the Showcase Gallery
• San Diego Art Institute – Museum of the Living Artist
• San Diego Hospice and Palliative Care - For more information or to register, please call 619-278-6451 or email volunteer@sdhospice.org
• .Port of San Diego - ongoing needs for art in public spaces commissions
• City of San Diego Commission for Arts and Culture - ongoing needs for art in public spaces commissions

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