MCASD - Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego

The Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego (MCASD) offers a vibrant gateway to understanding the world, the region, and ourselves through the lens of contemporary art. With locations in both downtown San Diego and La Jolla, the museum embraces its unique position within a dynamic binational landscape, reflecting the cultural richness of Southern California and Northern Mexico.

MCASD is dedicated to showcasing contemporary artists who challenge, provoke, and inspire. Through its exhibitions, programs, and community initiatives, the museum amplifies voices that explore the complexities of identity, environment, and social change. By engaging with artists from around the world and from its own region, MCASD highlights the diverse perspectives shaping our global present.

The museum values the essential role of art in public life, viewing it as a tool for reflection, empathy, and transformation. Artists are seen as visionaries who help us navigate the challenges of our time, and contemporary art as a powerful means of illuminating the urgent issues we face. At the heart of MCASD’s mission is a commitment to care—not only for its growing collection of works from the 1950s to the present, but also for the communities it serves.

MCASD offers educational programs, public talks, and artist-led workshops designed to engage audiences of all ages. The recently expanded La Jolla campus features new galleries, oceanfront terraces, and innovative spaces for learning and gathering, reaffirming the museum’s role as a cultural anchor in the region.

Grounded in values of inclusion, dialogue, and respect, MCASD envisions a future where art is accessible to all and where contemporary creativity fosters an open and expansive way of thinking. By creating space for conversation and discovery, the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego affirms the enduring relevance of art in building a more thoughtful and inclusive world.