California Cultural Districts

THE CALIFORNIA ARTS COUNCIL’s cultural districts program aims to assist Californians in leveraging the state’s considerable assets in the areas of culture, creativity, and diversity.

A CULTURAL DISTRICT IS GENERALLY UNDERSTOOD AS A WELL-DEFINED GEOGRAPHIC AREA WITH A HIGH CONCENTRATION OF CULTURAL RESOURCES AND ACTIVITIES.

“State-level designation of Cultural Districts, with California’s diverse geography and regional variety, allowed for an entirely new and comprehensive look at our deeply valued cultural assets,” said Donn K. Harris, California Arts Council Chair. “Each community’s personal and generational commitment to these assets speaks of a state deeply invested in the places and people that celebrate local traditions and creativity.”

This past summer, the California Arts Council announced 14 districts that will serve as California’s first state-designated Cultural Districts, as we reported. Two of them are in our region: Grass Valley-Nevada City and Truckee.

Each of the 14 districts will receive the designation for a period of five years, thanks to state legislation. The Council has partnered with Visit California and Caltrans for strategic statewide marketing and resource support.
Learn more about the California Cultural Districts program at CaCulturalDistricts.org.

GRASS VALLEY-NEVADA CITY
Twin cities rich in cultural history, the arts, and innovation, deep within Gold Country.

TRUCKEE
World-class scenery in a rugged high alpine setting that catalyzes and inspires art and culture.

BALBOA PARK
A cultural center of San Diego, captivating residents and tourists alike.

BARRIO LOGAN
A vibrant artists’ community with a high concentration of creative energy rooted in Chicano history.

THE BLVD
A thriving and dynamic cultural center located in California’s High Desert.

THE CALLE 24 LATINO
An arts and culture mecca and bustling Latino enclave at the heart of San Francisco’s eclectic Mission District.

ROTTEN CITY—EMERYVILLE
An innovative district in the midst of a renaissance devoted to art and creative production.

EUREKA
Something for everyone to discover, surrounded by the redwood curtain.

LITTLE TOKYO
A vital Los Angeles cultural community with more than 130 years of profound history.

OCEANSIDE
An emerging cultural coastal town rife with theaters, museums, galleries and practicing artists.

REDDING CULTURAL DISTRICT
The gateway to true Northern California, bridging nature with arts and culture experiences.

SAN PEDRO
An artist community juxtaposed with industry, against the backdrop of the Pacific Ocean.

DOWNTOWN SAN RAFAEL
An urbanized nerve center for culture in the suburban outpost of Marin County.

SOMA PILIPINAS–FILIPINO CULTURAL HERITAGE DISTRICT
A cultural, social, arts, and service hub for Filipinos throughout Northern California.

(Photo: Submitted to California Arts Council)