Borrego Art Institute

Borrego Springs, CA

The Borrego Art Institute is a vital cultural and educational resource for the Low Desert region of southeastern California. Located in the rural desert community of Borrego Springs, the Institute enriches lives through the arts and fosters lifelong learning through year-round exhibitions, artist-led workshops, outdoor installations, and educational programs. Its campus includes a main gallery, ArtPark gardens, and a dedicated pottery and teaching studio, welcoming over 24,000 visitors annually. Programming spans from pottery and painting to horticulture and sustainability-focused activities, including a Demonstration Garden and youth-oriented environmental learning. In a region increasingly affected by extreme heat and water scarcity, the Institute serves as a creative gathering space and a model for place-based cultural engagement.

With support from FCI, the Borrego Art Institute will install a rooftop photovoltaic (PV) solar array on its main facility, which houses the gallery and administrative offices. The system is projected to produce 62,460 kWh annually—exceeding current energy needs by 120 percent and eliminating reliance on fossil fuels for electricity. These savings will allow the Institute to expand its operating hours during the summer months, when temperatures often exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit even after sunset. The project will enable the site to remain open Tuesday through Sunday and extend evening hours to 8 p.m., making it the only Cool Zone-designated facility in Borrego Springs open after 5 p.m. Solar conversion will also free resources to expand visual arts programming—including evening lectures, youth workshops, curator-led tours, and community events—further embedding sustainability into the Institute’s mission and operations.

Milestones

• Install roof-mounted PV solar array generating 62,460 kWh annually

• Eliminate fossil fuel-based electricity use for gallery and office operations

• Extend summer operating hours to include evenings and weekdays

• Establish Institute as the only Cool Zone facility open after 5 p.m. in Borrego Springs

• Support expanded programming in visual arts, education, and sustainability

• Demonstrate visible commitment to climate action in a desert community