NTC Arts & Culture District’s evolution continues and is being showcased in the district’s ARTrageous summer program.
The fast-growing arts and culture district in Liberty Station is adding to its dozens of ongoing exhibits, classes, workshops and free activities by opening up a new museum, IDW Publishing’s Comic Art Gallery, on June 5. The new museum’s first exhibit will be the work of Kevin Eastman, co-creator of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise.
It’s just one of many new developments — with more to come soon — in the NTC Arts & Culture District, which still has room to grow.
“Eastman will be having a studio right next to the (art) gallery,” said NTC Foundation executive director Alan Ziter, who added that the addition of IDW Publishing and its comic gallery is likely to serve as a catalyst spurring growth and building the cultural district’s reputation while attracting even more artists.
“IDW Publishing wanted to be around other creative people, and this (NTC) was the place they chose,” pointed out Ziter, who invited other artists to join in.
“The good news is we have nine more buildings to renovate, further implementing the community’s vision here,” Ziter said, adding NTC’s Art & Culture District has become one of the most active of the city of San Diego’s mandated arts and cultural districts.
NTC Art & Culture District’s summer of fun will include, but is not limited to, the following exhibits and activities:
• Now through July 5, “Becoming All American: Diversity, Inclusion and Breaking Barriers in Major League Baseball,” New Americans Museum, Building 202; • June 26, Women’s Museum of California’s Wine, Cheese and Chocolate Festival, NTC North Promenade; • July 1, Farm Creative Market & Arts School opening in Building 176; • July 18-19, Natsu Matsuri Cultural Festival – Japanese Cultural Festival in Ingram Plaza; • Aug. 7, the 50th anniversary of the San Diego Watercolor Society; and • Aug. 15-16, ArtWalk San Diego, where attendees can purchase work from more than 175 fine artists along with live music, interactive art for adults and kids plus delicious street food.
On May 20, City Councilmember Lorie Zapf joined the City of San Diego Commission for Arts and Culture (Commission), the San Diego Regional Arts and Culture Coalition and the San Diego Tourism Authority in releasing the results of the 2014 Economic and Community Impact of Nonprofit Arts and Culture Organizations in San Diego (see box at right).
The Economic and Community Impact report concluded that “world-class arts and cultural programs are a vital component of a great city, not only because they enrich the lives of residents, but because they also support thousands of good-paying jobs and attract millions of dollars for the local economy.”
Ziter noted the timing of that report, and how it was handled, couldn’t have come at a more appropriate time, happening just before the cultural district’s summer kick-off of ARTrageous.
“It was good that they held the media event here (Liberty Station) because it really helped shine the spotlight on how the arts can help with job creation, neighborhood redevelopment, community engagement, civic pride and education programming for not only students but life-long learning,” he said.
Once again this year, NTC Art & Culture District is hosting summer camps for kids allowing them to explore and discover new personal skills throughout the Liberty Station campus. Students can delve into music, dance, theater, creative writing, hands-on art making, photography and more in Liberty Station’s parklike setting.
An official guide to camps and classes can be downloaded at www.ntclibertystation.com.
NTC is home to nearly 80 museums and galleries, arts and dance companies, educational groups, multidisciplinary arts, creative retail and other organizations showcasing San Diego’s creative community. The NTC Foundation was established in 2000 by the city of San Diego as a nonprofit to enrich San Diegans’ lives by renovating 26 historical buildings at the former Naval base.