FAQs
When was San Diego Art Matters founded, and by whom was it founded?
San Diego Art Matters was founded in 1990 as the San Diego Arts and Cultural Coalition by a group of inspired community cultural leaders who saw the need for more significant and organized advocacy efforts focused on arts and culture in San Diego. While a lot has changed over the years, including the organization’s name, San Diego Art Matters has been the most continuously operating arts advocacy agency in the San Diego region, focusing on promoting, preserving, and protecting the arts and culture sector for over 30 years.
How is San Diego Art Matters organized to do business?
San Diego Art Matters operates as an unincorporated nonprofit organization under the fiscal sponsorship of Mission Edge San Diego, a 501 c.3 tax-exempt, nonprofit organization. Under this business arrangement, San Diego Art Matters functions as a project of Mission Edge, with Mission Edge managing our accounting, legal reporting, and payroll operations.
Who advises and oversees the work of San Diego Art Matters?
San Diego Art Matters is self-governed by a board of advisors who hold various leadership positions in the cultural community. Administrative work is performed by a professional staff of practitioners with a wide range of backgrounds in arts management and cultural policy.
Who funds San Diego Art Matters?
San Diego Art Matters is funded by various foundations, major donors, members, and corporate sponsors.
As an advocacy organization, does San Diego Art Matters also engage in lobbying?
San Diego Art Matters follows all laws related to lobbying as set forth by the IRS. In general, no organization may qualify for section 501(c)(3) status if a substantial part of its activities is attempting to influence legislation (commonly known as lobbying). A 501(c)(3) organization may engage in some lobbying, but too much lobbying activity risks loss of tax-exempt status.
The majority of San Diego Art Matters advocacy activities focus on educational/informational purposes without the intent to influence legislation or elections. We promote voter education by hosting candidate appearances/debates and distributing candidate questionnaires or voter guides. We encourage voter participation and voter education on issues related to arts and culture, and we educate candidates on issues that are important to our constituents in a non-partisan way.
Where is San Diego Art Matters located?
San Diego Art Matters maintains a public office at UC San Diego Park and Market, 1100 Market St., San Diego, CA 92101, Suite 331. Because of the external nature of our work, staff is often in the field; therefore, onsite meetings are typically scheduled by appointment by emailing info@sdartmatters.org.
