San Diego’s North County Times published this great summary of the Museum Month opportunity in San Diego this February with discounted admissions to museums of all kinds across the county.

Museum Month, allowing visitors to most museums in the county to receive half-off regular admission prices, began in 1989, and is going stronger then ever. Last year, more than 19,000 visitors took advantage of Museum Month — double the number of visitors only four years ago.

 
While you can find full details online at www.sandiegomuseumcouncil.org, check out this list of museum participants– we love the near universal participation in this promotion for improving access to our cultural treasures at a time when more potential audience members than ever are feeling the pressure to reduce expenditures on entertainment and enrichment.
 

Participating museums and historical sites:

Adobe Chapel Museum

Barona Cultural Center & Museum

Birch Aquarium at Scripps

Bonita Museum & Cultural Center

California Center for the Arts, Museum (Feb. 13-28)

Coronado Museum of History & Art

Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum

Heritage of the Americas Museum

La Jolla Historical Society

LUX Art Institute

Maritime Museum of San Diego

Marston House

MCRD Command Museum

Mingei International Museum

Mingei International Museum North County

Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego – Downtown

Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego – La Jolla (Feb. 21-28)

Museum of Making Music

Museum of Photographic Arts

Oceanside Museum of Art

Old Town San Diego Historic Park

San Diego (Quail) Botanical Gardens

Reuben H. Fleet Science Center

San Diego Air & Space Museum

San Diego Archaeological Center

San Diego Automotive Museum

San Diego Hall of Champions Sports Museum

San Diego Historical Society Museum & Research Archives

San Diego Model Railroad Museum

San Diego Museum of Art

San Diego Museum of Man

San Diego Natural History Museum

Tijuana Estuary Visitors Center

Timken Museum of Art

USS Midway Museum

Veteran’s Museum & Memorial Center

Water Conservation Garden

Whaley House

Women’s History Museum & Education Center

 
Way to go, San Diego museums and cultural institutions!

I think the North County Times online does a great job of covering the arts and related events in San Diego. Check out this robust listing of North County San Diego art events this coming week, October 16-24, 2009:

Winery hosts art festival —- The Bernardo Winery in Rancho Bernardo hosts its 31st annual Fall Arts & Crafts Fair, featuring more than 125 artist booths, food booths and wine tastings; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Bernardo Winery, 13330 Paseo del Verano Norte, Rancho Bernardo; 858-487-1866 or www.bernardowinery.com.

Old Town San Diego Art Festival —- More than 15,000 visitors are expected at the fourth annual art festival, featuring a juried exhibition of work by more than 100 contemporary artists from all over the world. Events include restaurant food samplings, wine tastings, art activities for children and live entertainment; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Old Town San Diego Historic Park, 4002 Wallace St., San Diego; free; oldtownartfestival.com.

San Diego Botanic Garden fall plant sale —- Twenty-seventh annual sale features more than 100 local growers and nurseries. Selections will include California native plants, cactuses, succulents, bromeliads, fruit trees and subtropicals. Artisan food and crafts will also be for sale; 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; 230 Quail Gardens Drive, Encinitas; $12 for adults, $8 for seniors, active military and students, and $6 for children ages 3 to 12; 760-436-3036 or sdbgarden.org.

Oceanside International Film Festival concludes —- The inaugural festival concludes with a program of the festival’s award-winning films and an awards ceremony; film screenings, 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. at Sunshine Brooks Theater, 217 N. Coast Highway, and Spectrum Video, 1043 S. Cleveland St.; awards reception 5 to 8 p.m. at the Flying Bridge, 1105 N. Coast Highway; $10 to $35 per event; 760-433-3632 or www.ocaf.info.

And that’s just today! Read the entire post here.