Encinitas Arts Commission narrows 2025-26 priorities, emphasizes sustaining Pacific View and funding

The Encinitas Cultural Arts Commission on a January 2025 meeting began drafting its 2025–26 work plan, with members urging a narrower set of priorities focused on sustaining new programming at Pacific View, identifying specific funding opportunities and increasing public engagement.

Commission chair Fox opened the discussion by asking commissioners to review current items and offer brief updates and suggestions for prioritization. Commissioners and staff emphasized the need to support existing programs rather than create many new initiatives given limited city budget capacity. “We are in the process of working on the budget. ... there are no new positions, no additional funding,” Director Knopp told the commission, and commissioners responded by proposing a more targeted approach to funding and fewer, clearer goals.

Commissioners suggested concrete changes to the work-plan language to make the commission’s funding efforts more actionable, such as identifying a short list of potential grants or donors rather than a broad charge to “research available funding opportunities.” Several commissioners proposed training or a speaker to share best practices for grant-seeking and fundraising so the commission can pursue specific applications. Ideas for revenue-generating projects discussed included a paver/brick program, tile or mural fundraising, and increasing artist stipends on the sculpture loan program if outside funds can be raised.

The commission also discussed whether an updated arts master plan should be a priority. Staff noted a previous estimate of about $125,000 for a full consultant-led master plan and said that, absent a dedicated grant or donation, that expense is unlikely in the near term. Commissioners said that while a master plan could strengthen some grant applications, Encinitas’ existing arts activity and programs mean an immediate master plan is not required for many current initiatives.

Members asked staff to prepare a draft of outcomes that each ad hoc and project team would submit to the commission for consolidation and then forward to city council in April. Chair Fox asked each ad hoc to assemble brief, bullet-point outcomes of the year’s work for inclusion in that draft. The commission agreed that ad hoc groups may coordinate among themselves and submit their outcomes to staff for collation; staff clarified that transmitting factual outcomes by email for agenda inclusion is permissible within Brown Act rules.

Commissioners emphasized public engagement as a cross-cutting priority. Suggestions included dedicating a few regular meetings to themed public outreach, inviting artists and grant experts to present, using Pacific View and the city’s event mailing lists to promote meetings, and holding occasional community-focused sessions to draw nontraditional meeting attendees.

The commission said it will return with at least one or two draft work-plan versions at its next meeting for discussion and to prepare a consolidated outcomes document to present to council in April.