Developing a regional study on the creative workforce and allocating $1.3 million to artists are the central goals of Artists Count: San Diego + Tijuana, a binational initiative led by San Diego ART Matters and International Community Foundation to address structural conditions affecting the cultural sector along the border.
The project, in collaboration with Prebys Foundation and the City of San Diego, is based on a shared assessment: the high cost of living and unstable labor conditions have limited the sustainability of artistic careers in the Cali-Baja region.
“Supporting artists at key moments in their practice is essential,” said Emily Young, emphasizing that access to financial resources continues to be a structural barrier.
In addition to funding, the initiative includes entrepreneurship training, cross-border collaboration networks, and professional exchange opportunities. However, one of its central components is the research effort coordinated by the Policy & Innovation Center, which will document labor conditions, the distribution of time between creative work and outside employment, as well as artists’ professional aspirations.
Felicia Shaw explained that the goal is to “understand the real challenges artists face” and translate those findings into more effective cultural policies.
The study’s results, partially funded by the Parker Foundation, aim to influence future resource allocation and economic development strategies for the creative sector.
To participate in the program, artists must complete an eligibility process before applying for funding opportunities. Proposals will be evaluated based on originality, conceptual clarity, and potential impact on the artist’s professional trajectory.
From the City of San Diego, Rachel Laing noted that the initiative will also help “better understand how artistic communities can be supported.”
Registration is available at goapply.akoyago.com/artistscount; more information at Artists Count.