2026 ASN Annual Conference: San Diego, California
October 20-22, 2026
BORDERLESS CREATIVITY: ARTS BRIDGING CULTURES
Art is the language without borders. Boundaries may exist on maps, but art dissolves them. It reminds us that imagination is infinite, that creativity transcends walls, and that when we teach young people to make art, we also teach them to change the world.
Discover San Diego, a vibrant city at the edge of the Pacific and the gateway to Mexico, where cultures, ideas, and artistic traditions converge. Known as a transborder city, San Diego thrives at the intersection of languages, histories, and communities—making it the perfect setting to explore this year’s theme: Borderless Creativity: Arts Bridging Cultures. Here, attendees can examine both visible borders, such as geography and institutions, and invisible borders, like cultural expectations, disciplinary boundaries, and assumptions, discovering how the arts can bridge them all.
With its deep connection to Tijuana, Asian and Pacific Islander communities and indigenous Kumeyaay tribes, San Diego has long been a hub of cultural exchange and collaboration, giving rise to a unique cultural ecosystem. Today, this legacy lives on through groundbreaking civic and cultural initiatives such as World Design Capital 2024 and the Creative City strategy, which champions arts education, public art, and equitable access to creativity across neighborhoods. In San Diego, the arts are not an afterthought—they are central to civic identity, innovation, and dialogue.
 Our host school, the San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts (SDSCPA), is a nationally recognized Title I public arts magnet serving grades 6–12 with a rigorous pre-conservatory program and a diverse student body representing over 90 zip codes. SDSCPA embodies ASN’s mission to elevate arts learning for all. Its students spend nearly half their school day in artistic study—ranging from Dance, Theatre, Music, and Creative Writing, to Film and Stage Production—while also pursuing rigorous academics and college pathways.
San Diego’s broader arts community is just as inspiring. From Coronado School of the Arts (CoSA) to Creative, Performing, and Media Arts Magnet Middle School (CPMA) to arts-focused elementary schools, the city’s commitment to arts education spans K–12 and higher education, with thriving partnerships that extend to universities and community institutions like SDSU, Liberty Station Arts District. Together, these institutions break down traditional silos, creating opportunities for cross-disciplinary innovation, arts integration, and dialogue that transcends borders of subject, culture, and geography.
Beyond the conference walls, San Diego offers a world-class destination for exploration and inspiration. From the stunning cliffs of La Jolla and the iconic beaches of Coronado, to the historic charm of Old Town and the bustling nightlife of the Gaslamp Quarter, the city blends natural beauty with cultural vibrancy. Attendees can wander through Balboa Park, home to renowned museums, gardens, and the San Diego Zoo, or venture across the border into Tijuana for an unforgettable binational experience. Add in year-round sunshine, fresh coastal cuisine, and unforgettable sunsets, and San Diego becomes not just a conference location—but a true creative retreat
Conference attendees will experience this spirit firsthand through:
- Dynamic sessions and workshops on arts integration, cross-disciplinary innovation, and educational leadership.
- Performances and showcases that highlight how the arts foster dialogue across cultures and communities.
- Networking opportunities that spark collaboration between K–12 educators, university leaders, nonprofit organizations, community partners, and corporate stakeholders.
- Experiencing borderless creativity firsthand through museums, Chicano Park, the San Diego Opera, and other cultural institutions, engaging directly with artists, performances, and installations.
The 2026 ASN Annual Conference in San Diego will not only celebrate the incredible work being done in arts education but also invite us to reimagine what it means to be truly borderless—through partnerships, innovation, and the power of the arts to connect us all.
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