PACIFIC BEACH – Plans to convert a long-vacant former library building into a new arts center and community hub in Pacific Beach include a fundraising drive, a new logo, and a community mural-painting day.
Nonprofit beautifulPB, which is committed to promoting arts, mobility, and green spaces, is spearheading the effort to turn the vacant building across from Trader Joe’s at 4606 Ingraham St. into the home base and gateway for a new proposed PB Arts District.
“Our focus now is fundraising to start construction,” said beautifulPB board director and spokesperson Jennifer Nowak. “An additional $400,000 from where we are now will achieve what is needed for initial utilization of this historic space. This is an obtainable goal.”
From 1951-1997, the Pacific Beach Library operated out of the Ingraham site before moving to its current location at 4275 Cass Street.
Earlier this year, beautifulPB proposed creating a full-fledged arts district in the community, which is presently home to more than 50 murals, sculptures, and utility box art, all part of the PB Murals program. Finding a home for the new arts district is one of the key next steps in the PB Arts District formation process.
What’s needed now is to transform the 1950s mid-century modern structure on the southeast corner of the PB Middle School campus into something fit to serve the artistic needs of the entire community.
Nowak and artist Hilary Dufour met recently in the wide-open building, now gutted on the inside, to discuss their group’s vision for its transformation.
“We’re not looking to change (the building) drastically, we’re going to just breathe some life back into it,” said Nowak. “The first focus for the space itself is the children of Pacific Beach. They need art, music, and theatre, and that involvement.”
PB Middle School next door and the YMCA are both participating in the restoration, said Nowak, who added the YMCA will be “doing a lot of the programming” once the building’s been resurrected.
Nowak got involved with beautifulPB because she noted the group “does so much for the community, is for the community and by the community — the beautification, the mobility, the green spaces. It’s just amazing how that group can bring the community together. We’re all locals who just want a better space for Pacific Beach.”
Added Nowak of beautifulPB: “I was just so inspired by the talent that was involved, the drive, and the passion. I just said, ‘I need to be involved too.’”
Artist and beautifulPB volunteer Dufour asked what she could do to help out with the arts center effort, and has since agreed to lead the group’s mural painting event on Saturday, Nov. 15, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the site.
“I’ve done community murals before in other places,” she said. “I thought it would be a great way to raise awareness for the arts center.”
Obviously, said Nowak, there’s a lot of work to be done to convert the building to a usable condition. “We need to completely clean [the building] out and do some abatement inside,” she said. “After that, it is really dependent on funding.”
How is the project’s fundraising coming along?
“We have an amazing philanthropic subcommittee,” said Nowak. “And they’re working so hard to put together our vision so that we can share that with the community.”
Of where beautifulPB is now in creating the arts center, Nowak said: “We are planning events to bring awareness, and the community, together. It is going to be community-funded. This is going to bring some vibrancy back to our community.”
What is the timetable involved for project completion?
“It’s really dependent on funding,” responded Nowak. “Our first funding step is to get to $500,000. That will allow us to start the construction. Ideally, we’d like to start programming by July so that we can start getting kids in for summer camps and start kicking off events for the community.”
Community mural painting day
Join artist and beautifulPB volunteer Hilary Dufour to paint a mural at the new PB Arts Center, Saturday, Nov. 15, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 4606 Ingraham Street.
Those wishing to contribute to the PB Arts Center project can do so with the donate button on beautifulpb.com or by contacting leslie.follmer@gmail.com.
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