Read Ranch & Coast Virtually Anywhere
Issue link: http://ranchandcoast.uberflip.com/i/1541620
ArtReach's growth has been mostly organic. "It really is a lot of word of mouth and good reputation and joy that's carrying us," says Holbach. Funded by grants, school districts, individual schools, and even parent organizations, the significant demand brought to light an encouraging reality: art, and artists, were in demand. "One of our big goals of why we exist is not just to bring more art to children, but to show that it's a real career path and a viable career path," says Holbach. "So, we exist as much for the artistic community and the creative community in San Diego as well." To this point, Holbach notes that all of ArtReach's 11 full- time employees are practicing artists, in addition to its muralist partners and the 24 teaching artists that travel throughout the community. is belief in and support of the artistic community also drives ArtReach's strategic vision in the coming years to grow its paid internship program, offering a pathway for artists to learn within ArtReach and eventually become part of the organization. A drop-in studio at the ArtReach headquarters in Hillcrest offers additional opportunity for creativity, serving children from early walkers to elementary school age and beyond. Here, says Holbach, "You can get messy. You can fully cover your body in temporary tattoos. You can paint on a giant canvas. And, that space is always changing. ere's enough that keeps it familiar, but it's always changing a little bit so that it's a safe and accessible space to have your first creative experiences." Beginning in 2026, Holbach says ArtReach has secured funding to launch a Saturday workshop for families at its Hillcrest studio, welcoming all ages for intergenerational workshops at no cost to participants. "Art is so important. It's a joyful story; it's all adding to lives," says Holbach. "e secret sauce to ArtReach, I think, is that it's not one- size-fits-all, even since our beginning…we're listening first and then creating a program to fit their needs." artreachsandiego.org Focus philanthropy "As we've grown, we've just seen how art and creativity play a role in the whole life of a child," says ArtReach Executive Director Sarah Holbach << ranchandcoast.com 48 DECEMBER 2025 RANCH & COAST MAGAZINE ARTREACH SAN DIEGO: COURTESY PHOTO