North Park for the Arts :
News Release:
San Diego, CA (February 10, 2010) -- To better reflect the goals and unique place North Park Nights holds in the development of North Park's growing and diversifying neighborhood, it has been decided they will change their name from "North Park Nights" to "North Park for the Arts" (NPA). This change more accurately defines the group; a group of creative business owners, community members, and artists dedicated to maintaining and broadening North Parks' established arts and culture district. This change also reflects the need to move from an "event" based organization to one that is clearly focused on the marketing and support of North Parks' businesses and artists. "We exist to fund, promote and generally secure the safety of art in our neighborhood and ultimately our city" says NPA co-chair Amy Paul.
More than 30 San Diego Businesses have been working tirelessly for years as "Ray at Night" then as "North Park Nights" and now under the larger umbrella of "North Park for the Arts." The group will continue to work together to host events in and around North Park organized by a collective of North Park businesses dedicated to promoting and retaining arts and culture in the neighborhood.
North Park for the Arts includes select businesses from the 805 freeway, and runs west along University to 28th Street. Many contributing businesses are also located along 30th Street from Polk on the north side, to Upas Street on the south end.
NPA is a community-based project supported in part by The San Diego Art Institute, a non-profit organization dedicated to building arts and culture in San Diego.
This year NPA will launch the North Park Arts and Entertainment Guide. Part walking guide to local art events and coupon book, part art-zine, it's a pocket size guide to accessing San Diego's premier Arts and Culture district. In addition to highlighting the bustling art community, the guide will feature maps, coupons, calendar of events, and where to eat and shop North Park.
"This community is one of San Diego's many unique neighborhoods. It is mostly small businesses; almost all locally owned and operated creative organizations," explains NPA co-chair, Lea Caughlan. "By working together and truly supporting arts and culture, this neighborhood revitalization that has been happening over the last decade can continue its promotion as a community wide effort towards renaissance".
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A collaborative effort between businesses and arts organizations, North Park for the Arts mission is to promote access to and appreciation of the San Diego visual and performing arts within the Arts & Culture district of North Park. The website for NPA is currently under construction, please refer to the following website for information in the meantime: www.NorthParkNights.org.