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Dea Hurston Naming Campaign

DEA HURSTON NEW VILLAGE ARTS CENTER

NAMING CAMPAIGN

A legacy of excellence in the arts is now about to make history

In honoring Dea Hurston for her decades of exceptional achievements, talents and activism for the arts in San Diego, New Village Arts is proud to be the first arts center in the United States to be named for a Black woman.  

Dea Hurston

There are two vital efforts underway:

  • To complete the transformation of the New Village Arts Center in Carlsbad Village into a cultural gathering space for everyone in North County. The $2.5 million renovation will create a large, open lobby space that includes a stage area and ample room for community events, an art gallery and special performances. There will also be a new arts education classroom with windows open to the street, allowing NVA to conduct expanded arts instruction on-site for all ages. The completion of the renovation will establish the Dea Hurston New Village Arts Center as the premier arts and cultural center in North County and as a destination for access to the arts and arts training. The goal to complete the renovation of the building is $600,000. 
  • To expand the already successful Hurston Fellowship program into North County. This special program attracts, inspires, and provides arts training and professional opportunities for BIPOC, female and other underrepresented artists in San Diego County pursuing careers as actors, playwrights, technicians and arts administrators. The goal to establish the Hurston Fellowship program is $400,000 which will create a permanent fund that will be supported into the future through on-going donations and grants. 



Become a part of history…join us in leading the San Diego region in arts inclusion and excellence.

Please consider making your generous and heartfelt leadership gift to support this campaign that ensures a well-deserved spotlight is shown upon the achievements of a major champion for equality, inclusiveness and diversity of artistic voices.  

The generosity of campaign donors will be recognized permanently on a commemorative plaque prominently on view in the beautiful new lobby. In addition, all campaign donors will be invited to the  exclusive Ribbon Cutting event in Summer, 2022 for the opening of the Dea Hurston New Village Arts Center in Carlsbad Village.

To schedule an appointment to discuss your gift or for more information, please contact:

Kristianne Kurner

Founder & Executive Artistic Director

760-845-8020 |  kristianne@newvillagearts.org

Testimonials

Kristianne Kurner

“I can’t imagine a person in San Diego who has had a bigger impact on our theatre and arts community than Dea Hurston. She has consistently blazed a trail for engagement in the arts, creating pathways for so many of us in San Diego.”

Delicia Turner-Sonnenberg

“Dea Hurston has been an instrumental force in my own career and as the former Artistic Director of Moxie Theatre I was honored to work with so many Hurston Fellows. The impact she has had on emerging artists in San Diego, particularly underrepresented or underserved artists, has been immense.”