Encinitas’ Pacific View Arts Center is turning neighbors into makers

If you spend much time at Pacific View Arts Center in Encinitas, you might hear the rhythms of a dance class, the whir of sewing machines or the voices of aspiring actors warming up for improv. People might be sketching in a drawing workshop, while a fiber arts class next door is experimenting with new textures.

Since opening last summer, the city-run arts center has quickly become a place where residents of all ages can try something new, sharpen their skills or simply enjoy connecting with others.

What started as a modest schedule of arts classes has expanded into a robust lineup that includes dance, theater, music, poetry, sewing, youth school break camps and even broadcast and documentary filmmaking. The variety is deliberate, says Collette Murphy, Arts Division Manager for the City of Encinitas Parks, Recreation & Cultural Arts department.

“People sometimes have the mistaken idea that this is a place just for kids or that we only offer visual art classes, but that’s just not the case,” Murphy said. “We offer a wide range of programs, including specially priced classes for people 50 and older. The goal is to make creative expression accessible to everyone, regardless of age or experience.”

She said even people who love art might underestimate how it can improve their lives. Pacific View Arts Center is a bridge to all those benefits.

“Art gives people a way to express themselves, connect with others and see the world differently,” Murphy said. “It boosts mental flexibility, builds confidence and can ease feelings of isolation. That’s why making the arts accessible matters so much.”

A wide range of affordable programs

Courses at Pacific View generally run in six-week blocks, with shorter one- and two-day workshops sprinkled in, ensuring there’s always something fresh to try. Classes are intentionally affordable — just $7 an hour for Encinitas residents ages 50+.

The center is also building a scholarship program for older participants to complement the youth scholarships already in place.

“We’re trying to be cost-effective while still offering high-quality instruction across a diverse array of arts genres,” Murphy said. “We want to give people affordable ways to be creative and enrich their lives.”

Some of the most popular sessions may be a surprise, Murphy noted. Sewing has drawn strong demand, with students eager to learn both the basics and more advanced skills.

“In one of the first sewing classes we offered, an older gentleman enrolled so he could learn how to sew on buttons and mend his clothes,” she recalled. “And in that same class, a teenager was continuing her passion for fashion design. I find those stories so meaningful. We’re providing a path for these participants to further their goals and connect with each other.

Sculpture, printmaking, and fiber arts have also built followings, while perennial favorites like drawing, painting, and collage remain core parts of the schedule.

Murphy said someone who started taking printmaking classes when the arts center first opened was eventually inspired to enter his work in a local exhibition – an example of the “creativity, confidence and community created by art.”

The well-appointed broadcast and multimedia rooms are starting to draw increasing interest. On Thursday nights, the arts center offers Pacific View Sessions where the public can watch and listen in on a professional recording session that blends concert, interview, and behind-the-scenes documentary — all for $15. Each session is recorded and available to watch online later.

The new Recording Studio program is open to a group booking to learn from a sound engineer while recording their band or podcast. New and innovative offerings not generally accessible anywhere nearby are constantly being explored and added.

Connecting the community

For many people who take classes at Pacific View Arts Center, the value isn’t just in the skills gained but in the community that forms along the way. Students often return for more classes, workshops and programs, building friendships, finding mentors and sharing the joy of discovery.

That sense of connection is exactly what city leaders envisioned when they transformed the former Pacific View School campus into an arts hub. The historic site, which spans a full block along Third Street between E and F Streets, now houses eight classrooms tailored to different art forms.

With about 90 percent of the city’s arts programming now hosted there, Pacific View has become the beating heart of cultural activity in Encinitas. Murphy said she’s excited about the growth ahead as more and more of the city’s residents take advantage of the center’s offerings.

“Art is so deeply interwoven in the fabric of Encinitas culture that it plays a natural role in just about every aspect of our lives here,” Murphy said. “Pacific View Arts Center is an extension of that. Art brings people together and gives the community a shared voice.”

Learn more and/or register for classes, workshops and events at Pacific View Arts Center on the City of Encinitas website.

The news and editorial staffs of The San Diego Union-Tribune had no role in this post’s preparation.