We believe in the transformational quality of the arts and its ability to widen our vision of the world around us. We hope to not only build the confidence of those involved in the arts but disseminate information throughout San Diego thus raising the bar on the writing, production, and appreciation of the visual arts in our region. This is the only site designed exclusively for Visual Arts in the San Diego region. SDVAN is a 100% volunteer non-profit organization, where all services are free and financed by donations from people like you who believe in our mission.

Currently the site includes a feature to encourage new buyers of art, SmART Collector; a gossip column RAW; top picks of the month Picked RAW including Branching Out with new listings on the site, report on those events chosen in Picked RAW Peeled, an editorial A+ Art Blog; and a monthly message of updates about the site. SDVAN is the sponsor for the San Diego Art Prize and the New Contemporaries and supports exhibitions which encourage local talents such as Little & Large and Movers & Shakers and Art Meets Fashion and DNA of Creativity. We connect artists with patrons in our Eat Your Art Out fundraisers.

SDVAN currently receives over one million hits a year and has 4-5000 unique visitors a month. We list over 2200 visual arts resources including artists in the SD region.

Directory entry includes Name of Organization or Service, location, contact numbers (tel, fax, email, website), and mission statement or services offered to the community. The directory is available as a website only and not a printed document.

Entries are made directly onto the site by those listed.

The Events Calendar lists the next 15 events and ongoing events with a search by type and location. Opportunities both paid and volunteer are listed, including grants with a search by type and age. The SDVAN offers a listing of artists by name, with website and gallery affiliation, and enables them to be located by the medium as well.

The directory categories include:

• Arts Organizations
• Public Exhibition Spaces
• Commercial Spaces
• Art Education
• Services and Suppliers
• Art Management and Promotion