Encinitas Unites in Support of Arts Education at Annual Encinitas Arts Festival

The City of Encinitas Arts Division and San Dieguito Academy Foundation are celebrating the critical role the arts play in schools and the community by presenting the 3rd annual Encinitas Arts Festival on Sunday, March 23 from noon to 4 p.m. at the San Dieguito Academy Performing Arts Center, 800 Santa Fe Drive, Encinitas, CA 92024. Use of the arts center is made possible through a partnership with the San Dieguito Academy Foundation (SDAF). 

“The festival was designed in 2012 with the arts center in mind,” said Jim Gilliam, city arts administrator. “Presenting the arts in this state-of-the-art venue benefits the performers, artists and community.”  

“This is a wonderful collaboration that allows us to showcase the creative talents of our students and bring the community into our beautiful Performing Arts Center,” said Sheila Durkin, SDAF Executive Director.

The festival theme, “Passport to the Arts”, will offer 22 dance, theatre and music performances on 3 stages by students and professionals, plus hands-on art workshops, 28 artist booths, 2 student art exhibits, chalk art, and gourmet food trucks. New this year is a showcase of high school and college bands. 

The festival is free of charge. 

Encinitas Mayor Teresa Arballo Barth and Dana Smith, Dean of MiraCosta College San Elijo Campus, will open the festival at noon. County Supervisor Dave Roberts will greet the public at 3 p.m.

“Encinitas is a city filled with art, artists and more than 70 arts organizations. An arts festival is an important way to showcase the creative community and celebrate students’ artistic achievement,” said Gilliam.                                    

This year’s festival will feature Dragon Knights Stilt Theatre, North Coast Symphony Strings, Patricia Rincon Dance Collective, SDA Concert Band, Ocean Knoll Dolphin Sounds Chorus, Encinitas Ballet and many more. For the full schedule, visit the city website.                                       

A main focus of the festival is to highlight arts education in Encinitas public and private schools. 

“Research shows that the arts are vital to student success. Arts education is linked to higher test scores across all subjects, as well as lower dropout rates. They foster creativity and imagination, hallmarks of careers in the 21st century. Beyond the classroom, the arts are shown to nurture collaboration and civic engagement in young people,” said Dr. Tim Baird, EUSD Superintendent. 

 Encinitas Alliance for Arts Education (EAAE) is part of the California Alliance for Arts Education (CAAE) which intends to raise awareness among state, county and local elected officials about the essential value of arts education in our schools. 

“We want the community to experience learning in the arts first-hand to better understand why all students need arts education,” said Francine Filsinger, EAAE Coordinator. 

This festival supports the grassroots effort by CAAE to increase arts education for California’s students. Other festival partners include the Encinitas Theatre Consortium, the San Dieguito Union High School District, Encinitas Union School District, Cardiff School District, MiraCosta College District and California Alliance for Arts Education.

The festival is funded in part by a grant from the City of Encinitas and Mizel Family Foundation Community Grant Program.

For more information on the festival, visit: encinitasca.gov/festival.

—City of Encinitas