A Cultural District, as outlined by the program, is a well-defined geographic area with a high concentration of cultural resources and activities. Each of the 14 districts received the designation for a period of five years, per state legislation. 

Originating with the adoption of Assembly Bill 189 in 2015, authored by Assemblyman Richard Bloom, the California Cultural Districts program aims to leverage the state’s artistic and cultural assets. Aligning with the mission and values of the California Arts Council, the districts will celebrate the diversity of California while unifying under an umbrella of shared values—helping to grow and sustain authentic grassroots arts and cultural opportunities, increasing the visibility of local artists and community participation in local arts and culture, and promoting socioeconomic and ethnic diversity. Districts will also play a conscious role in tackling issues of artist displacement.

APPLICATIONS FOR THE 2025 COHORT WILL BE AVAILABLE FROM MAY 27 TO AUGUST 7, 2025.

Only partnerships are eligible to apply, ones that include, at a minimum, a cultural non-profit or artist collective, a local business/business association or a community development corporation, and a branch of local government.

Ensuring that all interested parties have a good understanding of the full array of cultural assets present in the district will be critical to its long-term success.  A comprehensive approach to cultural assets helps to ensure authenticity and the preservation of homegrown assets, a key priority of the California Arts Council.

The application and review process will have three steps, including an open call for applications, site visits for semi-finalists, and finalist selection.  A multi-disciplinary and multi-sector selection panel will review applications and provide ranks for districts to proceed as semi-finalists. Those semi-finalists will receive invitations for site visits by CAC staff. After the site visits, the panel will reconvene to discuss all the ranks and site visit notes and recommend up to 10 districts for designation. Members of the California Arts Council will vote to award designation during a public meeting in December 2025.