Un Mar de Colores · Point Loma, CA
Free Artist Residencies for Point Loma Youth
Quarterly workshops and summer artist residencies center Indigenous, Latino, and Chicano coastal voices — all free.
Un Mar de Colores's Cultural Arts & Storytelling workshops center Indigenous, Latino, and Chicano voices of the California coast — and Point Loma youth are welcome in every cohort. Quarterly workshops run throughout San Diego County in partnership with Cabrillo National Monument (NPS) and Point Loma Nazarene University, with summer artist residencies open to Point Loma students via referral from San Diego Unified School District. All supplies, instruction, and exhibition opportunities are provided at no cost.
Schedule — Point Loma Program Days
Quarterly workshops + summer artist residencies · Completely free
You Might Be Feeling This
- —Coastal culture in media shows white surf aesthetics — your Point Loma teen doesn't see Chicano or Indigenous stories.
- —Representation in local galleries doesn't match 34% of Point Loma residents — who gets to be 'coastal artist'?
- —Cultural arts feel separate from environmental work — you want Point Loma youth connecting watershed stories to visual art.
What Changes When Youth Get in the Water
- Culturally grounded curriculum — Indigenous and Latino coastal narratives as foundation, not supplement.
- Guest-artist workshops bring professional creators who reflect Point Loma communities.
- Film and documentary-making training — Point Loma teens tell their own stories with provided tools.
Why We Run This Program in Point Loma
Point Loma's Sunset Cliffs coastline is too advanced for beginner instruction, but our Point Loma youth cohorts travel to OB Pier and Dog Beach for water sessions, with dryland instruction at Cabrillo National Monument and Point Loma Nazarene University (our educational partner). The Kumeyaay coastal history of the peninsula is woven into every Point Loma cohort curriculum.
- Population
- 32,000
- BIPOC residents
- 34%
- Spanish-speaking households
- 17%
- Distance to beach
- Coastal
Cultural Arts & Storytelling in Point Loma — What You Should Know
Exhibition partnerships with local galleries and museums amplify Point Loma youth work — public visibility beyond school walls and social media.
With 17% Spanish-speaking households in Point Loma, bilingual arts instruction and exhibition materials are standard — not English-only gallery language.
Why Point Loma Matters to Our Mission
Recruitment in Point Loma runs through counselors, teachers, and community partners who know which students need this most. We don't run open enrollment chaos — we build intentional cohorts.
When we say free for Point Loma youth, we mean wetsuits, soft-tops, rashguards, sunscreen, transportation, and instruction — the full stack commercial programs charge $50–$150 per session for.
Local Point Loma Partners & Referral Sources
In partnership with San Diego Unified School District and local community organizations, we recruit youth from 2+ Title I schools.
School district & Title I partners
- San Diego Unified School District
- •Point Loma High
- •Cabrillo Elementary
Community partners
- ◆Cabrillo National Monument (NPS)
- ◆Point Loma Nazarene University
- ◆Point Loma Library
Program Curriculum
Cultural Arts & Storytelling at Un Mar de Colores is where the surf, the coast, and community narrative meet. Quarterly workshops and summer artist residencies bring together youth, professional artists, and Kumeyaay elders to create work that reflects the living cultural traditions of the California coast. Programs center Indigenous, Latino, and Chicano voices historically marginalized in coastal culture, and every workshop ends with a public exhibition, publication, or film screening that returns the art to the community that made it.
- →Coastal storytelling and oral tradition
- →Kumeyaay history and living culture
- →Latino and Chicano surf culture history
- →Visual arts (painting, mural, photography)
- →Poetry and spoken word
- →Film and documentary-making
What's Included — Free for Every Point Loma Youth
- ✓All art supplies provided
- ✓Guest-artist workshops
- ✓Exhibition and publication opportunities
- ✓Bilingual instruction
- ✓Culturally grounded curriculum
- ✓Partnership with local galleries and museums
Why Un Mar de Colores
We do not charge families. Ever. That policy is structural — grants, donors, and shop revenue fund access so Point Loma youth are never waitlisted for inability to pay.
What our community says
“"He used to approach new activities with extreme anxiety — to the point where sometimes we couldn't even get out of the car. Now he goes much deeper into the water."”
Frequently Asked Questions — Cultural Arts & Storytelling in Point Loma
Can teens do film and documentary workshops?+
Yes — film and documentary-making workshops include camera access and editing mentorship. Point Loma teens document coastal stories, environmental justice, and neighborhood memory with professional guidance.
How does Kumeyaay culture appear in arts programming?+
Kumeyaay elders participate in coastal storytelling and living culture modules alongside visual arts — elders as teachers, not symbols. Point Loma Indigenous and Latino youth learn cultural depth commercial surf culture erases.
How is cultural arts connected to other Un Mar programs?+
Arts integrate with watershed education (Tijuana River visual narratives), Ocean Stewards after-school, and surf camp afternoons. Point Loma youth see culture, environment, and ocean access as one movement.
Are cultural arts & storytelling in Point Loma really free?+
Yes. All Un Mar de Colores programs in Point Loma are 100% free — including 3/2mm wetsuits, soft-top surfboards, transportation from partner schools like Point Loma High, Cabrillo Elementary, and certified bilingual instruction. Funding comes from the San Diego Foundation, community grants, and individual donors. No Point Loma family has ever paid for our programming.
Where exactly do cultural arts & storytelling happen in Point Loma?+
Primary water sessions run at Sunset Cliffs. Classroom components happen at Cabrillo National Monument (NPS) and other partner sites. All water activities happen within lifeguard-flag zones.
What ages can enroll in Point Loma?+
We serve youth ages All ages. In Point Loma specifically, our recruitment runs through San Diego Unified School District — with priority enrollment for students from Point Loma High, Cabrillo Elementary. Cohorts are age-appropriate (One Ocean for 6–12, Ocean Stewards for 13–17).
Does my child need to know how to swim before starting?+
No. We begin every cohort with ocean-safety fundamentals in chest-deep whitewater at Sunset Cliffs, supervised by instructors certified by the San Diego Fire-Rescue Lifeguard Division. Water comfort is built progressively. In Point Loma, we also run pre-cohort pool-familiarization sessions at local community pools for students who request extra comfort-building.
Are lessons taught in Spanish in Point Loma?+
Yes. All Un Mar de Colores programs are bilingual — and in Point Loma, where 17% of households are Spanish-speaking, we intentionally pair at least one bilingual coach to every session. Cultural programming is delivered in both languages, and parent communications are always sent in Spanish and English.
How is Un Mar de Colores different from other cultural arts & storytelling in Point Loma?+
Three ways: (1) everything is free, while most Point Loma surf programs charge $50–$150 per lesson; (2) we are BIPOC-led and our coaches reflect the 34%-BIPOC Point Loma community we serve; (3) our curriculum includes environmental justice, Kumeyaay coastal history, and cultural arts — not just surf skills. We exist because the ocean should belong to everyone in Point Loma, not just those who can afford access.
How do I sign my Point Loma child up?+
Visit our sign-up page or contact us directly. Priority enrollment goes to students of Point Loma High, Cabrillo Elementary and referrals from Cabrillo National Monument (NPS) and Point Loma Nazarene University. Summer cohorts fill 3–4 weeks before start, so early contact is recommended.
Ready to Get in the Water?
Join hundreds of Point Loma families who trust Un Mar de Colores for free ocean programming. Enroll today.
All Un Mar de Colores programs are free for Point Loma youth. Reach out to enroll, volunteer, or support the movement.
Un Mar de Colores is a BIPOC-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Oceanside, California. We provide free surf, ocean, and environmental programming for youth across San Diego and Tijuana — bridging cultures, coasts, and communities since 2018.
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