Village Visionaries: A Cultural Cornerstone in the Heart of Balboa Park

By Patric Stillman

Tucked between the San Diego Zoo and the San Diego Natural History Museum lies a charming enclave that has been nurturing creativity for nearly a century. The Village Arts and Education Foundation (VAF), operating in what was once Balboa Park’s Spanish Village, is not just a place for art; it’s a living, breathing cultural ecosystem. With its brightly colored tiles, twinkle-lit patios, and studios bustling with working artists, the Village offers a visual feast and a deeper mission: community engagement through art.

“It wasn’t meant to be permanent,” said Nancy Scheuermann, president of VAF, in a recent interview. “It was developed and built in 1935 for the second California exhibition. And what is interesting is that when they built many of the facilities there, including Spanish Village, it was meant to be temporary. But this little quaint Spanish town that they built for the tourists that came for the exhibition had restaurants and shops and cantinas, and they were supposed to be taken down at the end of the exposition. But in 1936, when everyone was taking other places down, a group of artists came and asked the city council if they could take over that spot where the Spanish Village was and develop that into an area where artists could do their artwork, display, show and sell. And the city council agreed to that, but they wanted something in return. What they wanted in return was that the artists shared, demonstrated and taught the art to the community. So, since 1936, we have been working with that synergy with the city as well.”

That spirit of sharing remains at the heart of VAF’s mission. As a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, the Foundation holds the city permit for the premises and has expanded its vision far beyond studio walls. Through education, exhibitions, and outreach, VAF has created a model of sustainability and relevance as one of the only artist communities in San Diego’s tourism footprint.

Visitors to Balboa Park might stumble upon the Spanish Village by accident, drawn in by the kaleidoscopic tiles that pattern the patio. But what they find is more than picturesque. It’s a community of studios that are “each unique, each painted differently,” said Scheuermann. “So just walking through, one finds a celebration of artistic vision.”

Beyond the colorful spectacle, the Village is a cultural incubator. Locals know about ‘December Nights,’ but not many are aware of the other activities that take place within the Village. Last month, Opera Neo held its annual outdoor performance here, and VAF’s educational programs continue year-round on a private patio tucked away from the foot traffic of the park.

“Many of our artists are very good teachers. They teach their medium, like painting, jewelry making, glass design. There are so many kinds of art taught here,” Scheuermann said. “One of the best things we have are summer camps. When you hear ‘summer camps,’ everyone thinks of little kids doing something, but this is also for adults. Every summer we have adult camps. We have five different artists, and each day you learn a different medium. The artists teach something new each day, and the students love it. Three hours a day and you walk away with a project. We also have a teenager camp so they can be with their peers. And we have several little kid camps with ages from seven to ten years old. Everyone loves it.”

SPECTRUM 2026

Importantly, the Village’s role as a cultural touchstone is evolving to reflect the broader identity of San Diego. In 2026, the Village will celebrate its 90th birthday, and plans are already underway. Next spring, VAF will launch Spectrum, a multi-week celebration of LGBTQ+ visual arts.

“Many of our artists are part of the LGBTQ+ community, and we felt it was time to make that more visible,” Scheuermann said. “Art should speak truth. That’s part of what it means to be an artist.”

The upcoming exhibit, to be co-curated with artist and activist RD Riccoboni, promises to spotlight queer perspectives in visual storytelling and engage the public in dialogue around identity and community. Spectrum: Celebrating Diversity Through Art will run from May 5 through June 2, 2026, at the Village Art Center’s Gallery 21, serving as a vibrant lead-in to San Diego Pride. The collaboration between VAF and The Studio Door art gallery marks a powerful alliance between two longtime champions of LGBTQ+ visibility in the arts.

Far from a static gallery show, Spectrum will include special programming throughout its run, such as an arts panel, live music, artist receptions, and live art demonstrations. This inaugural year will lay the groundwork for a larger vision RD Riccoboni has long held—a permanent home in Balboa Park for queer art and its creators.

“As LGBTQ+ artists, we’ve always used color to challenge the gray spaces of the world,” Riccoboni shared. “Spectrum is our opportunity to amplify those voices, not just for Pride, but for all who believe art should reflect the full range of human experience.”

With its inclusive theme, accessible programming, and celebratory tone, Spectrum is poised to become a cultural touchstone for San Diego’s queer community and a powerful addition to the city’s springtime arts calendar.

Cultural initiatives like Spectrum aren’t just gestures of inclusivity. They reflect VAF’s commitment to being a community space where people can see themselves in the art and artists around them. “This is a great starting point,” Scheuermann noted, “for the LGBTQ+ community to come in, be seen, and show their art in a place as historic and central as Balboa Park.”

And there’s something poetic about that legacy. The Village was founded by artists who fought to preserve a temporary structure and turn it into a sanctuary for creativity. Ninety years later, that impulse to preserve, create and share continues through the work of VAF and the community it serves.

Whether you’re a weekend tourist, a collector, a budding artist, or someone who just wants to experience the heartbeat of San Diego’s creative scene, the Village Arts and Education Foundation offers more than an afternoon stroll. It offers connection.

“We welcome everybody to come. We’d like more people to join our community,” Scheuermann explained. “Whether you want to be an artist or just help out, we’re always looking for volunteers. We’re a 100% volunteer organization.” With roughly 200 artists and six guilds representing mediums from sculpture to enamel, the Village serves as both a launching pad for new artists and a haven for experienced creators. New artists are juried in twice a year, a process detailed on the website under “Become an Artist in the Village.”

For details on classes, camps, artist opportunities, and upcoming exhibitions, visitvillageartsandeducationfoundation.org.

As Scheuermann summed it up: “It’s not about guarding what we have. It’s about giving it away. The more we give, the more we receive. That’s what art does. That’s what we do.”