Santee Arts Banners

These 5 art pieces were selected by the Santee Workgroup for Arts & Culture to be City owned light poles:

Nicole Yeagy/Resurrected Artisan
Chrysanne Lowe/San Diego Watercolor Society
Chuck McPherson
Sarah Sullivan
Linda Baltodano/East County Art Association

Arts & Culture

In Santee, California

Arts and culture help define Santee’s identity by bringing people together, celebrating local stories, and enhancing shared spaces. The City is proud to support this through public art, creative placemaking, cultural activities/events, and opportunities for local artists.

In 2022, the City of Santee's Community Oriented Policing Committee established three core community values - Accountability, Community Minded, and Respect - creating a foundation for expanding arts and culture efforts.

The Santee Workgroup for Arts & Culture, formed in 2024, guides projects such as arts banners, murals, painted utility boxes, and grant pursuits.

These initiatives align with the Town Center Specific Plan update, particularly in the Arts & Entertainment Neighborhood, and strengthen community pride.

Santee Workgroup for Arts & Culture

The City of Santee has established the Santee Workgroup for Arts & Culture, comprised of City Staff and community stakeholders and volunteers. The group meets every other month at Santee City Hall (10601 Magnolia Ave, Santee).

Next Meeting
Wednesday, April 1st at 3:30 PM in Building 8P

To RSVP, please email Alicia Wong at AWong@CityofSanteeCA.gov.

Submit Feedback To The Workgroup

Santee Capacity Building Project Grant
Made possible by San Diego ART Matters

In early 2026, the City of Santee was awarded a $20,000 Capacity Building Project grant from San Diego ART Matters.

Stay tuned for project updates throughout 2026!

Art Banners

All five of the Santee Art Banners. Each banner reads Arts and has the Santee, California logo. Each banner has a different art piece on it.

In early 2025, the Santee’s Workgroup for Arts & Culture invited local artists to submit artwork for a pilot light-pole art program, this effort was designed to add community-driven creativity to the streetlights along Town Center Parkway (Town Center Specific Plan - Arts & Entertainment Neighborhood) to create conversation pieces and promote art exposure in our City.

The City received 29 submissions for the first round of Arts banners. The five selected pieces are displayed at the top of this page. We encourage everyone to stroll or drive along Town Center Parkway to see the banners in person.

We extend our appreciation to everyone who shared their work and contributed to this creative initiative.

Read The Artist Biographies

Utility Boxes

Four Utility Boxes painted with Iconic Santee symbols. Text reading Magnolia Ave & Mission Gorge Rd, Fanita Dr & Mission Gorge Rd, Mission Gorge Rd in front of Chick-Fil-A and Olive Ln, & Mission Gorge Rd. Describes where each of the four boxes are located.

Four of our utility boxes along Mission Gorge now shine with designs that tell the story of Santee. Look for magnolia blooms, community symbols, and colors that bring our streets to life with art by Thom Guerra.

Murals

Walker Preserve Murals

The four murals seen along Walker Preserve Trail

Painted in 2016, the murals found along the Walker Preserve Trail feature a series of community-created murals. Volunteers painted scenic panels depicting Santee's history and wildlife. Themes include the City's dairy farming heritage and the diverse riparian ecosystem along the San Diego River.

The four murals shown above depict the following from left to right:

Natural Environment: Showcases the diverse flora and fauna of the San Diego River ecosystem, emphasizing the importance of environmental conservation.
Community Leaders: Features Harriet Wade, celebrated for her dedication to community development and her lasting impact on Santee's growth. Harriet established the Santee Historical Society, aiming to preserve the city's rich history. Harriett Wade's unwavering commitment to preserving Santee's history has ensured that the city's heritage remains alive and accessible to all.
Kumeyaay Heritage: Honors the Kumeyaay people, the original inhabitants of the San Diego River basin, acknowledging their enduring presence and cultural significance in the region.
Founding Figures: George A. Cowles, considered the founder of Santee, showcasing his agricultural contributions, including the cultivation of fruit trees, grapevines and grains.

Culture

Santee Core Community Values

Core Community Values

The Santee community has identified accountability, respect and community-mindedness as Santee's core community values.

Accountability is being responsible for one’s own actions and outcomes to safeguard equity, inclusion, dignity and a positive, thriving environment for all.

Respect is honoring the rights, differences and dignity of others through our words and actions.

Community-minded means taking appropriate action to advance the health, safety and quality of life for all members of our community.

Timeline of Core Community Values