Collaborative Projects

Balboa Park is an ideal place to serve as a professional “learning laboratory,” given the number, diversity and geographic proximity of its resident cultural institutions. Over the years, the Cultural Partnership has worked with our member organizations throughout the Park on collaborative grants and projects from guest experience to inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility.

Parkwide IDEA

Proin non odio eget mauris venenatis convallis. Etiam ultricies orci et consectetur tincidunt.

Program history

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nulla at metus lectus. Sed tincidunt nisl sed tellus tempus volutpat.

Definitions

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nulla at metus lectus. Sed tincidunt nisl sed tellus tempus volutpat.

Balboa Park Learning Institute

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nulla at metus lectus. Sed tincidunt nisl sed tellus tempus volutpat. Proin non odio eget mauris venenatis convallis. Etiam ultricies orci et consectetur tincidunt.

Guest Experience Initiative
Smith Leadership Symposium
- History (Who is Bob Smith?)
- Past program themes and speakers

Sustainability Program

From 2008-2020, the award-winning Balboa Park Sustainability Program was a collaborative effort between the Cultural Partnership, City of San Diego, and San Diego Gas & Electric® (SDG&E®) to protect the Park’s cultural and historical resources while improving the economic vitality of Balboa Park, a California Cultural District and National Historic Landmark.

The Sustainability Program, operating between 2008-2020, represented an alliance between the City of San Diego, San Diego Gas & Electric® (SDG&E®), 24 Balboa Park member organizations, and 75+ community partners. With eleven years of success, the program propelled the Cultural District toward a socially, environmentally, and economically sustainable future by utilizing the program’s core objectives of advancing sustainability in Literacy, Practice, and Leadership.

LEED Certifications

In 2019, the Cultural Partnership marked another step in maintaining the Park's centennial legacy of 10 LEED certified buildings in Balboa Park. Member organizations: Fleet Science Center, Museum of Photographic Arts at The San Diego Museum of Art, San Diego Civic Youth Ballet, San Diego History Center, San Diego Junior Theatre, San Diego Model Railroad Museum, San Diego Youth Symphony, and The Old Globe achieved LEED recertification with support from our program, SDG&E®, San Diego Green Building Council and their GAP volunteers, City of San Diego's Parks and Recreation, and Waxie.

The Casa del Prado, Fleet Science Center, and The Old Globe maintained LEED Silver and Casa de Balboa improved to LEED Gold.

LEED certified buildings in Balboa Park

Awards and Recognition

California Sustainability Alliance

2010

The Cultural Partnership was honored by the California Sustainability Alliance with the 2010 Sustainability Showcase Award for Commercial Buildings for our demonstration of exemplary leadership in advancing sustainability goals in their operations and communities.

SDG&E Energy Champion

2013

In May 2013, at the 8th Annual SDG&E Energy Showcase event, the Balboa Park Cultural Partnership was honored by SDG&E as an Energy Champion for its outstanding results in energy efficiency and conservation.

Balboa Park Cultural Partnership is a featured case study, along with a host of international case studies, in Rachel Madan’s book, Sustainable Museums: Strategies for the 21st Century.

Co-Grand Energy Champions

2015

The Cultural Partnership and the City of San Diego were honored as Co-Grand Energy Champions at SDG&E’s 10th Annual Energy Showcase on June 18, 2015.

AAM Sustainability Excellence Award

2017

The American Alliance of Museums presented the Cultural Partnership with a Sustainability Excellence Award (SEA) for its 2016 Sustainability Studio exhibit.

Sustainability Forum recognition

2018

The Sustainability Program received recognition from Congresswoman Susan Davis, Assemblymember Todd Gloria, and Councilmember Chris Ward for ten years of the program’s sustainability success and five years of the Sustainability Forum.

Collaborative Grants

The Cultural Partnership has led numerous national, state, and City grants in partnership with Balboa Park organizations. These partnerships allowed organizations to collaborate on shared goals that had a positive impact on the Balboa Park experience.

The Learning Institute has been awarded numerous grants since 2008 to help advance and streamline their offerings.

IMLS Grants

2008-2011

21st Century Museum Professionals Grant to support the development of the Balboa Park Learning Institute

2011-2014

21st Century Museum Professionals Grant to support extended impact on the Balboa Park community and region.

2012-2015

21st Century Museum Professionals Grant to support "Transforming the Balboa Park Experience Through Professional Development"

National Science Foundation Grants

Art of Science Learning

The Art of Science Learning is a national initiative that uses the arts to spark creativity in science education and foster the development of a skilled 21st Century STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) workforce.

Its Phase 2 is a National Science Foundation-funded project designed to strengthen the creativity skills and innovative capabilities of STEM learners and professionals through arts-based learning. Harvey Seifter, Art of Science Learning founder/director, is the project’s director and principal investigator.

InforMath Collaborative

The goals of the InforMath Collaborative are to investigate two research questions involving mathematics and informal education, and to contribute to the professional development of all its members. The research questions will be defined by the members of the collaborative using the ones specified in the original proposal as a basis.

The Collaborative will meet every two weeks starting in September 2014 until May 2015. Each 3-hour session, which we call “lab”, will take place at the Balboa Park to be supplemented by 3-hours, by each participant, in between labs.