A bustling Arts District Liberty Station. (Photo courtesy of the district)
Once a place where sailors marched in formation, Arts District Liberty Station is now filled with music, movement and murals – and the transformation is earning statewide recognition.
The 100-acre Point Loma campus has been designated one of 10 new California Cultural Districts by the California Arts Council, making it the only site in San Diego County to receive the honor this year.
The designation, which runs through Dec. 31, 2030, recognizes areas of concentrated cultural activity and supports local economies, tourism and inclusive creative communities. Districts are selected through a competitive, equity-centered process that includes peer review and site visits.
“People need to know when I come to the arts district, I’m going to have fun, I’m going to be entertained, I’m going to see unique things and I’m going to meet artists,” said Lisa Johnson, CEO of Arts District Liberty Station. “To be recognized in this way is so beneficial for all our artists in residence, all of our tenants that are small businesses.”
The designation includes $10,000 in funding, official state certification, technical assistance and access to joint marketing and branding resources. There are now 14 cultural districts statewide, including three previously designated in San Diego County – Balboa Park, Barrio Logan and Oceanside.
A San Diego native, Johnson said the arts district plays a key role in the region’s tourism-driven economy.
“Cultural tourism is really important,” she said. “Yes, people are going to the beach, yes, people are going to see the Padres play, but when they get here, they can discover so much more about San Diego.”
The designation coincides with the district’s 25th anniversary campaign, which runs through May 2026 and aims to raise $250,000. Funds will support grants and programming, including the district’s open-air gallery of approximately 15 public art installations and Liberty School, an arts education program that brings underserved students to the district for full days of enrichment activities at no cost.
“By bringing students to the artist spaces, they can see that people are gainfully employed,” Johnson said. “The arts are a vocation, not just a hobby.”
Rice Enright, founder and CEO of Aptitude for Music, one of the district’s tenant organizations, said the designation reflects the values of the people behind it.
“I know where their hearts lie,” Enright said. “I just can’t speak highly enough of their passion and motivation for the arts – making the arts accessible to everyone.”
Rice Enright teaches Liberty School students to play pink ukuleles. (Photo courtesy Apt 4 Music)
Apt 4 Music has expanded significantly since opening four years ago at Arts District Liberty Station, evolving from an 800-square-foot room to two facilities dedicated to performance and education. The partnership has also helped the organization increase its presence beyond the arts district, leading to music instruction in multiple schools.
“We wouldn’t have that reach without Liberty School to open those doors for us,” Enright said. “I’d like to think we’ve returned the favor by being not only good tenants, but good advocates for the arts and providing quality programming for these kids.”
Enright’s organization is one of more than 100 creative businesses, galleries, studios and museums that operate on the campus, while architectural details continue to hint at the site’s military past.
“It’s the same paint scheme they used 100 years ago,” Enright said. “You walk in from this beige, military-looking outside to an explosion of art on the walls. There’s music coming out of the rooms, and the floors are bouncing from the dance troupe upstairs.”
The unlikely blend of historic preservation and contemporary arts culture is something Enright couldn’t fathom.
“If you’d told me this would happen someday, I would have said, ‘That’s not chocolate and peanut butter,’” he said. “But somehow they did it – and it’s beautiful.”
The USS Brave, created by artist Jonathan Allen. (Photo courtesy of the district)
Looking ahead, Johnson said four former barracks buildings still need refurbishing, and The Admiral NTC project – which will restore former military residences into a hospitality hub – is expected to begin in mid-2026.
Johnson hopes the next chapter also includes programming that further defines the district’s identity.
“A dream is producing our own festival, whether it’s dance, music, arts,” Johnson said. “I want people to think of us as a place to learn and grow and convene important conversations about arts and culture.
“I would like that to be part of our next five-year legacy – to be thought of as a cultural hub in every sense of the word.”
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