Grant Oliphant, President and CEO of the Prebys Foundation:
“The proposed $11.8 million reduction to arts funding raises real concerns about the immediate and long-term impact on San Diego’s nonprofit arts community. For many organizations, city support is not only foundational — it enables them to secure matching funds and sustain programs that serve neighborhoods across our region.
At Prebys, our work is grounded in what we hear consistently from the community: well-being depends on whether people have a sense of purpose, opportunity, and belonging. Arts and culture are central to all three. They create jobs, foster connection, and provide spaces where people — especially young people — can see themselves and feel they belong.
We recognize the difficult choices facing the Mayor and City Council. But arts funding is not a luxury — it is critical infrastructure for a thriving, inclusive region. Decisions made now will shape not just organizations, but the social and economic fabric of our communities for years to come.
This moment also points to a larger challenge: how we resource the kind of region we aspire to be. San Diego has long taken pride in doing more with less, but that approach can limit our collective ability to invest at the level our communities need. Addressing that gap will require thoughtful, shared approaches over time. We stand ready to partner in those conversations. In the meantime, sustaining support for arts and culture is an important place to begin.”
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