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The National Endowment for Arts had promised over $300,000 in grants to San Diego arts organizations. Now, those funds are on hold, leaving the future of many programs uncertain.

The Blazing Laptops Write-a-thon is THE big annual fundraiser for San Diego Writers, Ink (SDWI). On June 22, 2025, writers will write in person at Lestat’s Hillcrest from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Writers seek pledges from sponsors to help raise money for San Diego’s favorite literary arts organization. We provide the space and writing prompts for those who want them. All of our participants write the day away! Additionally, incentives and prizes are given for people who raise the most money for SDWI. Visit: https://writeyourstorynow.org/all-programs/blazing-laptops/ SD Writers Ink on Instagram and Facebook

33rd Annual Juried Exhibition | Deadline to Enter: Friday, June 20, 2025 by 11:59 p.m. PDT. Joseph Clayes III & Rotunda Galleries | 33rd Annual Juried Exhibition One of the most prestigious juried shows in San Diego, selected artists will exhibit their work in our galleries, receive excellent exposure, and mingle with both artists and art lovers at an opening reception. Prize winners, including the recipient of the Leslie Von Kolb Memorial Award, will be announced at the opening reception. The call for entries for the Athenaeum's 33rd Annual Juried Exhibition will open April 1 through June 20, 2025. Artists may enter up to three different works for juror consideration for this exhibition, which will open July 26. Our juror this year is art historian and curator Malcolm Warner. Entry fee per artist is $15 for members and $20 for non-members. All entries must be submitted through the online portal: https://forms.zohopublic.com/athenaeummusicaandarts/form/Athenaeum33rdJuriedExhibition/formperma/p4A0yrUrT2NQ66r2IKYggVQ0VyapA1-DsV1YHzY_kIQ Deadline to Enter: Friday, June 20, 2025 by 11:59 p.m. PDT. Artists will be notified via email after July 1. Please, no calls. The 33rd Annual Juried Exhibition will be on view July 26 through October 18. Prize winners, including the recipient of the Leslie Von Kolb Memorial Award, will be announced at the opening reception on Friday, July 25, which will be held from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Free and open to the public. Visit ljathenaeum.org/juried-exhibition for updates. Exhibition dates: July 26 – October 18, 2025 Opening Reception: Friday, July 25, 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Free admission. Submission Deadline: Friday, June 20, 2025 by 11:59 p.m. PDT Criteria: Artists: Must live, work or exhibit within San Diego County or Tijuana, Mexico. Maximum 3 works/digital images per artist (jpegs, no larger than 2 MB each) Media: 2-D and 3-D media (no functional or craft art), or video. 2-D work must be ready-to-hang and may not exceed 60" width or height, framed. 3-D work may not exceed 8' H. Date: Pieces must have been completed within the past 5 years. Awards: 1st, 2nd and 3rd places, Leslie Von Kolb Memorial Award Fee per Artist: $15 for Athenaeum members; $20 for nonmembers. Payment must be submitted online at end of entry form. Fee is per artist, not per work. Deadline to Enter: Friday, June 20, 2025 by 11:59 p.m. PDT. Artists will be notified via email after July 1, 2024. Please, no calls. Juror: Malcolm Warner, Art Historian and Curator Malcolm Warner is a British art historian who made his career in the American museum world. He was curator of European art at the San Diego Museum of Art; senior curator of paintings and sculpture at the Yale Center for British Art; senior curator and deputy director at the Kimbell Art Museum, Fort Worth; and executive director at Laguna Art Museum, Laguna Beach. He curated exhibitions at those institutions as well as the National Gallery of Art, Washington; the National Portrait Gallery, London; the National Gallery, London; and the Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza, Madrid. He is an authority on Victorian art, especially the Pre-Raphaelites. He wrote his doctoral thesis on John Everett Millais (Courtauld Institute, 1985) and currently devotes most of his time to completing a catalogue raisonné of Millais’s works. Questions: Jocelyn Saucedo Larson at jsaucedo@ljathenaeum.org. The exhibition can be viewed in the Joseph Clayes III and Carolyn Yorston-Wellcome Rotunda Galleries at the Athenaeum Music & Arts Library (1008 Wall Street, La Jolla, CA 92037) during open hours, Tuesday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Ahoy, matey! The nautical-clad “Titans of Soft Rock,” Yachtley Crew, will be dropping anchor in San Diego this July to launch ArtPower’s summer season. For the uninitiated, Yacht Rock is a revival of the smooth soft rock and Top 40 hits from the late ’70s to early ’80s—now a nationwide sensation. Fans don captain’s hats and nautical attire, singing along to the era’s breezy, feel-good tunes. Yachtley Crew first made waves in 2017, selling out countless Southern California venues before igniting a nationwide Yacht Rock craze. Their success caught the attention of the legendary Jimmy Buffett, who signed them to his Mailboat label before their recent deal with Earache/Universal Records. Yachtley Crew on Instagram / Youtube

The renowned Range Ensemble string quartet takes to the stage with a dazzling program of the world’s most iconic and instantly recognizable film scores! From soaring melodies to heart-pounding themes, this concert is like hitting “play” on the soundtrack of your favorite movie memories. From the explosive energy of "Mambo" from West Side Story, to the cool surf-rock vibe of "Misirlou" from Pulp Fiction, to the pulse-pounding "Mission: Impossible" theme - Range Ensemble puts its own spin on these classics. With their signature blend of virtuosity, passion, and artistry, Range Ensemble will present an unforgettable live experience you won’t want to miss. Fallbrook Music Society on Facebook

Pacific Coast Harmony (PCH) will present “Fall Into Harmony,” a show of modern four-part a cappella harmony music on Saturday September 27, at 2 p.m. at the Schulman Auditorium at Carlsbad Library. The music spans the Great American Songbook, Broadway theater and film, popular songs, and beyond. A highlight of the show will be a special appearance by OC Sound, an award winning Sweet Adelines chorus from Orange County. They will be competing at the Sweet Adelines International Competition in October. Several PCH members’ quartets will also perform. Tickets are $25 in advance or $30 at the door and can be purchased by emailing treasurer@PacificCoastHarmony.org. Pacific Coast Harmony is an a cappella ensemble based in La Jolla, California, under the direction of Bonnie McKibben, an award-winning director, quartet champion, and recording artist. The chorus will be competing at the Barbershop Harmony Society’s Far Western District competition in October 2025, after having won the District’s Southeast Division competition in March. For more information, visit PacificCoastHarmony.org. Pacific Coast Harmony on Facebook / Instagram

A Halloween creative writing workshop for children aged 8-11. Have you ever thought about what it takes to make up a monster? There’s a lot more to it than glowing eyes or sharp teeth. In this Halloween workshop, young writers will have the chance to use their imaginations to create their own monster… or alien, ghost, witch, or some other creepy character. In this creative writing workshop especially for children, attendees can enjoy exploring the dark side of their imaginations in a safe and productive way, while exploring the different elements writers use to make an otherworldly character seem real. Please bring a pen or pencil, plus some paper to write and draw on. Some crayons and color pencils will be provided. You can also bring your own drawing tools. San Diego Writers, Ink on Facebook / Instagram

Pre-Halloween writing event: writers will learn about the Steampunk Genre, and participate in two mind-bending writing excursions from the Now Write! Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror anthology: The Secret Room: a surreal group creative writing exercise designed to activate your imagination, from famed surrealist Aimee Bender, author of "The Girl in the Flammable Skirt" and "The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake." Giving Sentience to Inanimate Objects: using provided objects, or something of your own, you will follow steps to create your own unique story. Contributed by former film exec, writer/producer, artist and script consultant, Devorah Cutler-Rubenstein. San Diego Writers, Ink on Facebook / Instagram

For Screenwriters, Playwrights and Novelists What exactly is a character – and what is it not? As a dramatic storyteller, your work gets easier when you understand each of your individual characters, as well as how they fit together within the story. And when you know your characters, they can help your story emerge organically, without having to force them into a plot. Together we’ll explore the roles characters play, common pitfalls around character development, and writing exercises designed to help you develop characters that feel real and compelling, and support your story. If you’re an intuitive writer, you’re going to love the clarity that comes with this workshop – and how that clarity helps focus your creativity. SD Writers, Ink on Facebook / Instagram

San Diego fiction writer and Small Press Nite founder Kevin Kearney’s latest novel follows a young and impressionable rideshare driver as his job — and the app behind it — begins to take over his life.