San Jose Downtown Foundation
Supporting arts & arts education
Celebrating 22 Years of Empowering Young Artists and Transforming Public Spaces
Our Mission
The San Jose Downtown Foundation (SJDF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit supported by the San Jose Downtown Association. Our mission is to invest in downtown San Jose’s vitality by providing transformative platforms for young artists, celebrating diverse cultural and creative expression, and enhancing the urban experience for all to enjoy.
Together we work toward the shared vision of a vibrant cultural downtown that invests in youth, art, and creative expression to drive economic vitality, enrich the urban experience and foster inclusive community pride.
Downtown Doors is SJDF’s flagship initiative—an annual public art program that invites San Jose high school students, including those from Title I schools, to transform overlooked urban spaces into powerful works of art.
Now in its 22nd year, Downtown Doors provides:
- A real-world platform for student artists
- Public installations of winning designs
- Honorariums and funding for school art departments
- Professional exposure and experience in the arts
By turning blank doors and utility boxes into vibrant displays, students leave a lasting impact on their city while gaining valuable experience.
In May 2025, we celebrated the 2025 Class of Downtown Doors at the San Jose Museum of Art. This past year’s event also celebrated the Dr. Jerry Hiura Next Gen Visual Artist Awards in a special combined reception. The Dr. Jerry winners were awarded alongside our annual recognition of 20 outstanding Downtown Doors student artists.
Here are a few moments from the reception:
2026 Board of Trustees
The San Jose Downtown Foundation is guided by a dedicated Board of Trustees—community leaders, artists, educators, and advocates—who volunteer their time and expertise to support our mission of fostering arts and culture in downtown San Jose.
Their leadership ensures transparency, sustainability, and vision in every initiative we undertake.
Republic Services
Santa Clara County
True Partners Consulting
Oracle
Art Builds Community
Scott Center for Social Entrepreneurship
Gensler
Get Involved
Support the next generation of artists and help us continue bringing creativity, culture and color to downtown San Jose.
Whether you’re a community member, educator or supporter of the arts, your involvement helps make programs like Downtown Doors possible.
Contact us at sjdf@sjdowntown.com for information about joining our board