The movement to convert a long-empty public building into a lively cultural destination is gathering momentum in Pacific Beach. Local organizers are seeking community support through a benefit evening and are simultaneously rolling out youth music education this summer. The plan centers on repurposing the 1950s mid-century building that once served as the Pacific Beach Library into a new Pacific Beach Arts Center, envisioned as a neighborhood gateway for a future Pacific Beach Arts District.
To accelerate the project, the arts group will host a fundraising event titled “An Evening For The Arts” on Saturday, June 20, from 6-9 p.m. The benefit will combine a social dinner with creative attractions: live music, a curated fine art gallery, a live auction and a raffle. Organizers hope the night will unite patrons, philanthropists and residents to support the campaign to renovate the former library and build out programming.
What the benefit will support
The money raised at the event is earmarked for the capital campaign to retrofit the 7,000-square-foot former library interior into a multipurpose arts facility. The reimagined space will include artist studios, classrooms for music, theater and culinary arts, and venues for live performances. Adjoining the interior, organizers have already unveiled a 16,000-square-foot outdoor area called the Pacific Beach Art Commons, which will host year-round community events.
Jennifer Tandy, who chairs the event and co-leads philanthropy efforts, described the vision as turning the building into a focal point that brings people together. The campaign has attracted support from local institutions and businesses, with founding sponsorship from the Pacific Beach Woman’s Club and backing from groups including Fitness West, Wagner’s School of Music, Schoettle Financial, the Kristen and Steven Victor Family Foundation, Gallery At Land’s End, and Jackie Helm-Helm Properties.
Partnerships and community role
The project is being led by beautifulPB, a grassroots collective focused on creating a more sustainable, equitable neighborhood through investment in arts, mobility and green space. The group envisions the rehabilitated building as the anchor for a proposed arts district and as a catalyst for local cultural activity.
Michelle Sexton, representing the Pacific Beach Arts Center, emphasized collaboration with nearby organizations to expand creative access. One of the center’s early public programs comes through a partnership with The Music Company, bringing practical music-production education to teens and reinforcing the center’s community-driven mission.
Transforming a library into a creative hub
The former Pacific Beach Library operated on the southeast corner of the Pacific Beach Middle School campus from 1951 until it relocated in 1997 to 4275 Cass St. The building’s mid-century modern architecture provides a distinct setting for cultural reuse. Plans call for a sensitive renovation that preserves exterior character while creating modern spaces inside for classes, performances and community gatherings.
SoundLab: hands-on music production for teens
As part of the outreach, the Pacific Beach Arts Center and The Music Company will run SoundLab summer camps. Each week-long session places teen participants in a professional-style studio environment where they learn to record, mix and produce an original music track and an accompanying short video. The program is designed to give practical skill-building and long-term creative connections.
SoundLab will be held Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to noon at The Music Company during three separate weeks this summer: June 15 – 19; July 13 – 17; and Aug. 3 – 7. Ted Pawela, executive director of The Music Company, noted that many young musicians never get the chance to work in a professional studio. By offering studio-based instruction, the camp provides an entry point into the recording arts and fosters confidence and community ties for emerging artists.
Why early access matters
Pawela and other organizers stress that early exposure to real equipment and workflow can change a young artist’s trajectory. The camps aim to eliminate barriers—both economic and experiential—so that neighborhood teens can develop technical competence and a supportive network of peers and mentors.
How to get involved
Community members interested in attending the benefit, enrolling teens in SoundLab, or supporting the capital campaign can find more information through the Pacific Beach Arts Center’s website and social channels. The organizations encourage people to subscribe to their newsletters or follow @pbartscenter for updates. Prospective donors or partners may reach out directly to the campaign coordinator at [email protected] to discuss sponsorship or contribution opportunities.
By combining fundraising events, practical programming and a clear renovation plan, organizers hope to turn the vacant library into a vibrant cultural anchor that serves residents, neighboring communities and visitors alike. The effort aims not only to restore a building but to create a lasting, accessible space for arts education and community life.
