San Diego Arts
San Diego Arts have appropriate scale to rank among the upper-midsize cities of America. The city boasts two venues for its contemporary art museum, a grand fine arts museum, photography museum and symphony center. The crown jewel is its world-famous Shakespearean theatre that often attracts leading thespians from Hollywood and Broadway.
Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, Downtown
DESCRIPTION: Located in three buildings downtown, the Museum of Contemporary Art’s first structure was built in 1993, adjacent to San Diego Trolley tracks. The second structure is located in the 1915 Santa Fe Depot baggage handling building. The third structure is a completely new building attached to the baggage handling museum building. Permanent art by Richard Serra and Jenny Holzer are featured around the properties. Collectively, the museums represent more than 30,000 square feet of program space, outdoor exhibition facilities and an artist-in-residence studio. The sounds and bustle of San Diego Trolley, Amtrak and commuter rail trains add character to every exhibit.
ADMISSION: Adults $10, Military/Seniors $5, age 25 and under enter free; also free every Thursday at 5p-7p
DAYS & HOURS: Sat-Tue 11a-6p, Thu-Fri 11a-9p
ADDRESS: 1100 and 1001 Kettner Boulevard, San Diego, CA MAP
PARKING: garages nearby
RAPID TRANSIT: America Plaza Trolley Station
PHONE: 858-454-3541
WEBSITE: https://www.mcasd.org
Jacobs Symphony Center
DESCRIPTION: Home of the San Diego Symphony, this historic building is regarded as one of the finest Classic music venues on the West Coast. Built in 1929, it was a premiere venue among Fox cinema franchises. In 1984, its lush, French Rococco-style hall was converted to a Symphony Hall. In 2002, a large donation by Joan and Erwin Jacobs upgraded it to a multi-purpose facility that can host concerts, comedy shows, corporate, civic events and film screenings inside its large Copley Symphony Hall. The venue contains state-of-the-art digital sound and lighting, and seats up to 2231 patrons. A pneumatic pipe organ accents the performance hall. Great care has been taken to preserve the original look of the lobbies and performance chamber.
BOX OFFICE: 7th Avenue and B Street
ADDRESS: 1245 Seventh Avenue, San Diego, CA MAP
PARKING: garages nearby
RAPID TRANSIT: America Plaza Trolley Station
PHONE: 619-235-0804
WEBSITE: https://www.sandiegosymphony.org
San Diego Museum of Art
DESCRIPTION: The museum was founded in 1922, on the site of the Fine Arts building for the 1915 Panama-California International Exposition. Additional construction to enhance the art venue began in 1924. Today, it is the region’s primary venue for fine art holdings in 19th and 20th century European art, American art, and large scale sculpture. Its galleries offer opportunities for inter-cultural learning, introspection and connection. It has featured critically acclaimed exhibits of Latin-American portraits. This architecturally distinguished museum in Balboa Park is the subject on ongoing conservation efforts.
ADMISSION: Adults $10, ages 65+ and Military $8, Students w/ ID $7, ages 6-17 $4, ages 5 and under enter Free
DAYS & HOURS: Tue-Wed & Fri-Sun 10a-6p, Thu 10a-9p
ADDRESS: 1450 El Prado, Balboa Park, San Diego, CA MAP
PARKING: lots in Balboa Park
RAPID TRANSIT: none
PHONE: 619-232-7931
WEBSITE: https://www.sdmart.org
Museum of Photographic Arts, San Diego
DESCRIPTION: The museum has a masterful collection of photographs from many genres in its permanent collection. Traveling photographic exhibitions are frequent here. The museum expertly reminds us that photography helps us to ponder history, see other cultures, and find refuge in beauty. It is always working, aiding art and science, confirming facts, identifying people and places, or encouraging our moral imaginations. The museum research library is available by appointment.
ADMISSION: Adults $6, ages 65+, Active Military $8 and Students w/ID $4, ages 11 and under enter Free
DAYS & HOURS: Tue-Sun 10a–5p
ADDRESS: 1649 El Prado, Balboa Park, San Diego, CA MAP
PARKING: lots in Balboa Park
RAPID TRANSIT: none
PHONE: 619-238-7559
WEBSITE: https://www.mopa.org
San Diego Museum of Us
DESCRIPTION: The only fully accredited anthropological museum in the region includes an Ancient Egypt exhibit and mummies. The museum also features rare exhibits of the Kumeyaay Indians and Southwestern art. Nearly 50,000 children participate in the museum’s education programs each year.
ADMISSION: Adults $10, Active Military, Students w/ ID, age 62+ and 13-17 $7.50, ages 3-12 $5, age 2 and under enter free
DAYS & HOURS: Mon-Sun 10a-4:30p
ADDRESS: 1350 El Prado, Balboa Park, San Diego, CA MAP
PARKING: lots in Balboa Park
RAPID TRANSIT: none
PHONE: 619-239-2001
WEBSITE: https://museumofus.org
Timken Museum of Art
DESCRIPTION: This museum houses the Putnam Foundation Collection of European old masters American art, and Russian icons. Artworks range from 13th-century altarpieces through 19th century still life pictures by Dutch, Flemish, French, and Italian painters, including Rembrandt, Rubens, Petrus Christus, Fragonard, Jacques-Louis David and Veronese.
ADMISSION: free
DAYS & HOURS: Tue-Sat 10a-4:30p, Sun 1:30p-4:30p
ADDRESS: 1500 El Prado, Balboa Park, San Diego, CA MAP
PARKING: lots in Balboa Park
RAPID TRANSIT: none
PHONE: 619-239-5548
WEBSITE: https://www.timkenmuseum.org
Mingei International Museum
DESCRIPTION: “Mingei” is a trans-cultural word meaning “art of the people”. The museum was founded in 1974 to exhibits daring explorations of traditional and contemporary folk art, crafts and designs from cultures around the world. Note the charming exhibits for Ethiopia and Brazil.
ADMISSION: Adults $7, $5 Seniors, $4 ages 6-17, Students and active military $3, ages 5 and under enter Free
DAYS & HOURS: Tue-Sun 10a-4p
ADDRESS: 1439 El Prado, Balboa Park, San Diego, CA MAP
PARKING: lots in Balboa Park
PHONE: 619-239-0003
RAPID TRANSIT: none
WEBSITE: http://www.mingei.org
Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, La Jolla
DESCRIPTION: The permanent collection of the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, includes more than 4,000 works created after 1950. See fine representations of media and genres that range from painting, sculpture, works on paper, photography, video, film and installation. MCASD is known for collecting works by emerging artists, mid-career artists, and major figures in contemporary art.
ADMISSION: Adults $10, Military/Seniors $5, age 25 and under enter free compliments of QUALCOMM; also free every Thursday at 5p-7p
DAYS & HOURS: Mon-Tue & Fri 11a-5p, Thu
11a–7p, Sat-Sun
11a–5p
ADDRESS: 700 Prospect Street, San Diego, CA MAP
PARKING: on street
RAPID TRANSIT: none
PHONE: 858-454-3541
WEBSITE: https://www.mcasd.org
Old Globe Theatre San Diego
DESCRIPTION: Although it has specialized in outstanding Shakespeare productions since 1935, the Old Globe frequently demonstrates its artistic outreach to diverse cultures. Not that I Just Stopped by to See the Man, directed by Seret Scott, played here. Any time is a good time for good theatre at the Old Globe San Diego.
BOX OFFICE: Mon-Fri
ADDRESS: 1363 Old Globe Way in Balboa Park, San Diego, CA MAP
PARKING: free on premises
RAPID TRANSIT: none
PHONE: 619-238-0043
WEBSITE: https://www.theoldglobe.org
Humphrey’s Concerts By The Bay
DESCRIPTION: This is a popular cosmopolitan venue that attracts national Jazz, Blues, Pop and Rock artists to perform in their lounge and 1200-seat outdoor amphitheater. The Jazz group Fatburger made it big here. The best visual feature of this concert venue is dinner under palm trees next to a yacht marina. Cover charge varies by artist. Book an overnight stay at their Humphreys Half Moon Inn and Suites.
BOX OFFICE: daily
ADDRESS: 2241 Shelter Island Drive, Los Angeles, CA MAP
PARKING: free on premises; valet parking available
RAPID TRANSIT: none
PHONE: 619-224-3577
WEBSITE: http://www.humphreysconcerts.com
