Goodwin is the owner of Leah Goodwin Creations, an art consultant, a cultural practitioner, a published poet and a newly appointed member of the California Arts Council. She lives in Imperial Beach.

Does diversity, equity and inclusion really exist in the San Diego arts landscape? I often ask myself this question. The easy answer is that diversity in the arts in San Diego has progressed over the last two decades, thanks to the efforts of many, but there is still a long way to go. The real question is, what else can we do to create a truly vibrant, diverse and inclusive arts environment in a future San Diego?

I share this message as a lifelong cultural practitioner, one of the few African American women in this field, and as a current member of the California Arts Council, though all opinions expressed here are mine alone.

For starters, arts funding policies need to change to be inclusive and level the socioeconomic disparities in the arts. The good news is that these days there are more programs and funds geared towards inclusion. Examples include the Cultural Pathways program at the California Arts Council and SDCARES at the city of San Diego’s Commission for Arts and Culture. The sad news is that innovative programs earmarking funds for Black, Indigenous, people of color or African American, Latino American, Asian American and Native American artists have had their funding shut down due to pressure around Proposition 209.

Proposition 209, approved in November 1996 and ironically also known as the California Civil Rights Initiative, amended the state Constitution to prohibit governmental institutions from considering race, sex or ethnicity, specifically in the areas of public employment, public contracting and public education. So the argument goes, funds designated for the arts that are from public sources cannot be earmarked for Black, Indigenous, people of color or African American, Latino American, Asian American and Native American artists.

To their credit, many arts organizations have looked inward, created racial equity statements and examined policies and practices that by their nature excluded smaller or newer organizations from participating. They have adopted new policies that don’t require small organizations to have auditors, require matching funds and allow them to use a fiscal sponsor if they do not yet have a 501(c)(3) status.

Allowing fiscal sponsors and partnerships is one solution. Finding new ways to look at the disparity in the light of the COVID-19 pandemic is another, using a tool called the Healthy Places Index. A project of the Public Health Alliance of Southern California, the Healthy Places Index is a powerful and easy-to-use data and policy platform created to advance health equity through open and accessible data. Community leaders, policymakers, academics and other stakeholders use the Healthy Places Index to compare the health and well-being of communities, identify health inequities and propose policy or program remedies. Such a data-driven disparity analysis is also useful in the arts funding arena.

Another approach comes from my experience serving as the public art consultant in the creation of the Public Art Collection at the county’s nearly completed Southeastern Live Well Center. This is the first public art collection in the county comprised predominantly of artists who are Black, Indigenous and people of color. Using the criteria of roots in the community in the call for art, we were able to identify and engage community artists whose works reflect the art statement: “Art at the Southeastern Live Well Center represents and celebrates the history, diversity and cross-cultural experiences of the community while educating, creating beauty, inspiration and healing.”

Right now, the city of San Diego Commission for Arts and Culture has embarked upon a true Arts Culture Master Plan. To engage in the cultural planning process, people are encouraged to go to sdcreativecity.com and click GET INVOLVED.

In partnership with the San Diego Regional Arts Coalition, Catalyst San Diego, Conrad Prebys Foundation and the California Arts Council, the San Diego Commission has launched the Far South Border West project with more than 65 multidisciplinary and culturally inclusive artists who are working to create projects focused on social justice, climate change, health and civic engagement. These projects will tie into and hopefully engage with the World Design Capital celebrations in fall of 2024. There is also a new Arts and Culture Commission at the county of San Diego.

Things are looking very promising for our region. But we have to keep moving forward.

We are all artists. Human beings by nature are creative, and I have often said that learning together about each other through the arts is how we will learn to find commonalities and celebrate our differences. This is the beauty of the arts. Art breaks down walls and lets us experience our humanity. Art offers a place where we do not have to agree in order to engage. It brings joy, wonder and, I believe, peace. San Diego is becoming a leader in this area. Let’s keep things going.