About The Program

The Balboa Park Learning Institute is a professional education program and learning community for staff and volunteers in arts, science, and cultural institutions. It was launched by the 24 member institutions of the Balboa Park Cultural Partnership in 2008 as part of collaborative efforts to achieve greater organizational efficiency, innovation, and excellence. The Learning Institute is supported by a matching grant from the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services.

We believe that a strengthened professional community will enrich the experience and value of arts, science, and culture for our audiences and communities.

The Learning Institute empowers individuals and organizations with specialized continuing education opportunities that build community, advance professional practices, and encourage new thinking. Year-round offerings range from “behind-the-scenes” workshop series to the signature Robert F. Smith, Jr. Cultural Arts Leadership Symposium. Areas of study include leadership, audience experience, evaluation, sustainability and other topics related to the cultural sector.

A key element of the Learning Institute is an emphasis on shared, applied, and reflective practice.

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. We are working with Audience Focus, Ltd., to conduct a multi-year evaluation study and better understand what we can accomplish with this approach.

Our approach is to surface, share, and complement the expertise and resources of Balboa Park.

Partnership member institutions are the primary audience of the Learning Institute. However, many offerings are open to individuals from cultural organizations outside of Balboa Park. Whenever possible, the Learning Institute partners with related local and national groups/organizations to leverage high quality learning resources.

The Balboa Park Learning Institute is supported by Balboa Park Cultural Partnership member institutions, program tuition, and a matching grant from the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services. Additional support has been provided by The City of San Diego’s Commission for Arts and Culture, Bank of America, and the Robert F. Smith, Jr. Leadership Symposium Endowment.