Arts, Culture & Creativity Month is back for its sixth year! Made possible by CA for the Arts, the annual initiative celebrates the arts community, building up and strengthening California’s creative sector each year.

Home to over 100 working artists, craft studios, galleries, museums and more, ARTS DISTRICT is the perfect place to celebrate the occasion. During the month of April (and beyond), we are celebrating the amazing artists, creatives and entrepreneurs that bring vibrancy to the ARTS DISTRICT.

Spring Break Camps

ART & IMPROV SPRING COMBO CAMP | April 1 to 3

Monart Drawing and Mockingbird Improv are collaborating to host a creative Art & Improv Combo Camp for students ages 6 through 12.

Taking place from 10 AM to 3 PM on Monday, April 1 through Wednesday, April 3, campers will create works of art inspired by Spring with Monart Drawing and learn the art of improvisation and showcase new skills in a live performance with Mockingbird Improv.

The joint camp offers kids a great opportunity to make new friends in a safe and positive environment and stay entertained all of Spring Break! The camp costs $300 per student and will be held at Mockingbird Improv.

SPRING BREAK CRAFT CAMP | April 1 to 5

San Diego Craft Collective will host two Spring Break Craft Camps; one for Littles (3 to 6 Years) and one for
Kids (7-12 Years). Taught by a variety of skilled educators and professional artists, children will get the chance to explore seasonal crafts celebrating Spring.

The Littles class, running from 9 AM to 12 PM, will explore Spring through sensory activities, crafts and stories while developing fine motor skills.

Meanwhile, the Kids class, running from 1 PM to 4 PM, will work with a variety of mediums such as woodworking, ceramics, textiles, glass and more.

Priced at $375, the Spring Break camps will run from Monday, April 1 through Friday, April 5, however one day drop ins are also welcome.

FIRST FRIDAY at ARTS DISTRICT | April 5

Explore the assorted art exhibitions, workshops and more at this month’s First Friday. You can view the entire lineup of events here with a few highlights listed below.

Delana Delgado will be hosting a First Friday’s Flea event at her “AROUND THE WAY GIRL” exhibition in Gallery 201.

Taking place from 4 PM to 8 PM, attendees will get the chance to browse through unique treasures from local vendors, support local artists and DIY creatives, and shop handmade goods, while dancing along to live music and sampling delicious bites from mom-and-pop eateries.

While shopping around be sure to enjoy Delana’s first solo debut exhibit which will be on display in Gallery 201 through Tuesday, April 30. The event is free and guests can register here.

Ana Galena Floral Studio will open her doors for Open Studio Flower Fridays from 4 PM to 6:30 PM! The public is welcome to stop by and create two free floral arrangements.

Visitors are encouraged to bring two recycled glass bottles; one for you to put your flowers in and the other to give to that person that needs a floral smile.

Veltz Fine Art will be hosting guest artist Dave Eassa from 3 PM to 8 PM in their studio. Guests are invited to stop
by and learn about some of his paintings that will be on display this Spring in Barracks 16.

Mockingbird Improv is hosting a night full of laughs and improvisations. Starting at 7 PM, Lyrics & Laughs will be a family-friendly show where vocal performances create the basis for improv scenes.

At 8:30 PM, Friday Night Flix kicks off with guests improvising movie scenes, followed by All Hands On Deck!, an improv game show meant for mature audiences, at 10 PM. RVSP here for the show you wish to attend.

San Diego Craft Collective will open their doors from 5 PM to 6 PM for a Free Kids Craft and community mending event.

Those who stop by will get the chance to be a part of a big community yarn bombing project SDCC is putting together for an art installation in collaboration with Visions Museum of Art (VMOTA) and Songbirds Music! RSVP here to secure your spot.

Emerging artist, Joyce Lien Kushner with TILTshift Dance will be hosting a free First Friday dance class. This month’s class will focus on Intermediate and Advanced Contemporary Floorwork, and teens and adults are invited to sign up here to secure a space.

JAZZ TUESDAYS AT CARRUTH CELLARS | April 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30

Sip back and relax with wine, cheese and smooth jazz at Carruth Cellars in Liberty Station from 5 PM to 8 PM every Tuesday. With new performers and musicians each week, Carruth’s Jazz Tuesdays offer the perfect atmosphere for tasting wine with good company.

UNITED BY YARN COLLABORATIVE PROGRAM EVENT | APRIL 9 & 13

As part of the ARTS DISTRICT Collaborative Program, Visions Museum of Textile Art (VMOTA), San Diego Craft Collective, and Songbirds Music are coming together to host a creative event for the public.

On Tuesday, April 9, San Diego Craft Collective will host a Sit and Stitch session from 10 AM to 1 PM. Creatives of all ages and skill levels are encouraged to stop by and crochet or knit projects to donate to the United by Yarn Project.

Then, experience the culmination of the collaborative public fiber arts project at the main United by Yarn event happening on Saturday, April 13 in Central Promenade.

From 10 AM to 2 PM, members of the community will engage in a vibrant crafting experience featuring stations for creating crochet, knit, and woven motifs, all intended for use in multiple yarn bombing installations.

In addition, there will be an interactive musical area showcasing instruments and an exciting Spanish language songs activity that involves art-making.

This family-friendly event promises fun for all ages. Feel free to bring a blanket and a picnic lunch for a delightful day out!

CROSS-BORDER INFLUENCES – THE ART OF ROSA HUERTA | On Display Now!

In celebration of San Diego/Tijuana World Design Capital 2024, Rosa Huerta of Mi Gallery Tu Gallery will be showcasing a new exhibit titled “Cross-border Influences,” in the Dick Laub NTC Command Center Gallery.

Raised in Mexico and California, Huerta incorporates the aspects of her international experiences into every piece of the exhibition. The exhibition will be on display in the lobby of the Dick Laub Command Center and is open daily from 11 AM to 5 PM.

An opening reception will be held on Saturday, April 6 from 2 PM to 4 PM and visitors are encouraged to stop by and meet the artist, Rosa Huerta, and learn more about details of the exhibit.

“BRAT” BY WENDY MAPLES | April 12 & 13

Stop by the Light Box Theater in ARTS DISTRICT Liberty Station for the debut of “BRAT,” a unique theatrical experience inspired by real-life stories of military ‘brats.’

Written by Wendy Maples, the play delves into the life of a military child dealing with frequent moves, forging new friendships, coping with an absent parent, and finding solidarity within the community.

Five dynamic actors will take to the stage and call upon the audience to grapple with how upbringing can shape one’s sense of place. “BRAT” will debut on Friday, April 12 at 7 PM in the Lightbox Theater, and a second matinee performance will take place on Saturday, April 13 at 3 PM.

Join the guestlist here.

READING LEGACIES STORY HOUR | April 20

Calling bibliophiles of all ages! Reading Legacies will be hosting their Monthly Family Story Hour from 3 PM to 4 PM on Saturday, April 20 on the first floor of Barracks 15. The event is free to the public and promises to be an afternoon filled with laughter, learning and literary wonders.

Reading Legacies encourages reading together with family and friends to facilitate supportive relationships. This month’s attendees will also receive a special coupon to Joyride Bookshop. The Story Hour will take place every third Saturday of each month through the end of the year.

Arts, Culture & Creativity Month: A Statewide Celebration of Art

Additionally, ARTS DISTRICT Liberty Station is thrilled to partner with CA for the Arts (CFTA) each year and support the hundreds of artists and creatives who call ARTS DISTRICT home.

This April, California’s Arts, Culture & Creativity Month (ACCM) brings new statewide activations and celebrations of the arts through programming and advocacy tools.

ARTS DISTRICT is excited to help raise visibility and awareness of the value that artists, culture bearers, cultural organizations and creative workers generate for Californian’s economy and communities.

See you there, San Diego!