The Port of San Diego Board of Port Commissioners approved a proclamation at its October 17, 2024, meeting recognizing October as "Celebration of the Arts Month." In honor of National Arts and Humanities Month, this annual event reaffirms the Port's ongoing dedication to promoting arts and culture in communities along the San Diego Bay waterfront. Public art has been a cornerstone of the Port's mission since the 1980s, serving as a cultural amenity and community-building tool.

"We are committed to supporting local artists, embracing cultural expression, and enjoying creative freedom along our vibrant San Diego Bay waterfront," said Chairman Frank Urtasun, Port of San Diego Board of Port Commissioners. "The Port is proud to continue our role as a steward of public art and we invite the public to explore and enjoy our bayfront treasures."

The Port's ongoing arts initiatives have transformed parks, piers, and business districts along the waterfront. The Port's public art installations include sculptures, murals, mosaics, and other site-specific artworks that serve to engage locals and visitors alike. The Port's Tidelands Collection features 70 public artworks in the tidelands areas of Chula Vista, Coronado, Imperial Beach, National City, and San Diego. The most recent addition to the collection is a sculpture entitled "Rigors of Flight," by artist Roberto Salas, which will soon become the artistic focal point of the new Sweetwater Park as part of the Chula Vista Bayfront. Additionally, Port tenants have commissioned or acquired approximately 40 public artworks for their leaseholds as part of the Port's tenant percent for art program.

The Port invites community members and visitors from all over the region and the state of California to celebrate National Arts and Humanities Month and Immerse Yourself in the Arts through six self-guided tours around San Diego Bay, which offer unique and recreational experiences in the form of informational walking tours of the Port's public art.