Monday's devastating flooding affected many arts and culture spaces, organizations, artists and performers across the region.
One of the areas hit hardest by the flooding is southeast San Diego, which includes the recently designated San Diego Black Arts and Culture District. Organizers had planned a Black History Month event at the Jacobs Center, but it is closed until further notice due to flooding, but other art spaces have also been significantly affected.
“Cholas Creek runs through the San Diego Black Arts and Culture District and bisects Marie Widman Park, a major amenity of the district. It is the site of several planned activities. ” said Guidi Finney. Executive Director of the San Diego African American Museum, an organization that oversees grants for the formation of a Black Arts and Culture District.
Mr. Finney also plans to develop Synergy, which is located in the same building on Imperial Avenue and houses Urban Collaborative CDC, Max Moses Studio, San Diego Heartbeat Academy of Music and Performing Arts, San Diego Urban Warriors and others.・The center's co-working space was also flooded. Outside, artist Maxx Moses' graffiti garden space suffered major damage, but his graffiti mural is fine.

Graffiti Gardens is an outdoor studio that doubles as a tranquil immersive art space set in nature, with vibrant Moses murals adorning vibrant, living gardens.
“The garden was torn down. The garden surrounded the entire back of the building. We had a large plant with over a hundred pounds of soil in it that was moved to the other side of the building, along with the planter. “Moses said, “The river flowing outside was like another world.''

He added that while the paintings stored in the indoor studio were relatively intact and dry, others in the building were not so lucky. “A river ran through that place.”
Dajaan Blevins, who runs the San Diego Urban Warriors and helps organize the district's Black History Month activities, said the community will still find ways to come together even if the park and Jacobs Center are damaged. Told.
“We are undaunted,” Blevins said.
More artistic and cultural spaces are affected by flooding
PASACAT Philippine Performing Arts Company has suffered water damage to its building in National City and will be closed indefinitely until renovations are completed. They are asking for donations and may have volunteer opportunities in the future.
Extensive flooding and equipment damage was reported at K Street Creative Studio in Grant Hill. The building houses studios and rehearsal space for more than a dozen bands and musicians, including Author & Punisher, Noneexistent Night, Wild Wild Wets, Weatherbox, and more. They have set up a GoFundMe to collect donations.
Demetrius Antuna, who runs K Street Kreative, said all tenants were affected. The group said on GoFundMe that the space flooded five years ago and is no longer covered by flood insurance.
Arts and cultural organizations and small businesses affected by the floods include:
World Beat Cultural Center (donate here)
Bread and salt caused the roof of artist Brian Ali Sanchez's studio space to cave in, damaging finished paintings and equipment.
San Diego Made Factory and its many artist studios, shops, and collectives
native poppy
spun thread
mad house studio
Corner Frame Shop/Leucadia Art Gallery
sound like sound
1502 Candle Company
Kind Folk Farm
Sweetwater Farms
Local small farms have been hit hard, with potentially long-term impacts on this and future plantings and seasons. Berry Good Food organized a fundraiser to support other small farmers in the Tijuana River/Estuary region.
Damaged art and book resources
- To assist with water damage to art, textile, book, photography, and paper collections, the Balboa Art Conservation Center has compiled a list of water emergency resources here.
Other support methods
There are several neighborhood cleanups that are recruiting local volunteers.
- Lemon Grove and Southcrest are looking for volunteers to clean up this weekend, January 27th and 28th.
- San Diego County District 4 is hosting a debris removal and cleanup drive for affected families and is seeking volunteers on January 27th. If you would like to volunteer, please call 619-236-6644.
GoFundMe has a designated section for “Winter Storm” fundraisers. To search in this region, select California.
Resources for affected residents
The resources below may assist businesses, organizations, and individuals affected by flood-related damage.