BY ALMA VILLEGAS
CV Journalism Collaborative
California’s top arts ambassadors identified downtown Merced as a notable cultural hub, one of the first two counties in the San Joaquin Valley to receive such a recognition.
The announcement by the California Arts Council last week designated the “Downtown Merced Cultural District” as one of 10 new cultural districts across the state, alongside other enclaves in Modesto, Los Angeles and San Francisco.
The program, according to city partners, will support regional economic development and stimulate Merced’s travel and tourism industry.
“A part of my letter was we’re not San Francisco, we’re not LA that is known for cultural stuff, but that doesn’t mean that we don’t have culture, within the downtown, within Merced,” said Gloria Valdovinos, executive director of the Downtown Merced Partnership.
In addition to writing a letter of support for downtown Merced’s cultural district designation, Valdovinos helped coordinate a tour of the district with judges from the California Arts Council.
The physical tour unfolded on a Tuesday afternoon and featured multiple stops and programming, including a performance at the Merced Multicultural Arts Center by the Bear Creek Ukulele Society, among others.
Bottom of Form
“When the judges came into Merced Theatre, all the kids were singing on the top,” Valdovinos said. “The Lao organization, they actually brought out their big float, and that’s how we ended the stop. And so it was just things like that, us trying to show them what Merced has, in a limited timespan. I think that was really impactful for them…”
A designation to boost downtown
Following a competitive, multistep process, the Merced County Arts Council and the Downtown Merced Partnership secured a $10,000 state grant for the local arts.
The Downtown Merced Partnership is a nonprofit partnership between businesses, city leaders and downtown property owners. It represents approximately 32 businesses downtown, including 17th Street Public House, Playhouse Merced, Bella Luna and El Cid Coffee.
Cultural districts across the state are geographically-bound and globally-recognized areas with exceptional cultural assets.
“Arts, culture, and creative businesses employ people and strengthen social connection which are the conditions for vibrant communities,” California Arts Council Executive Director Danielle Brazell said in the news release. “Cultural Districts are an integral part of our economic, civic, and cultural ecosystem that fuels innovation, reflects California’s diversity, and shapes the stories we tell and export across the globe. I offer my heartfelt congratulations to our 2025-26 California Cultural Districts cohort!”
The inaugural cohort launched in 2017 to leverage California’s global creative economy and, with the addition of 10 new districts, is now composed of 24 nationally-recognized cultural districts across the state.
The funds, which will be distributed in the next two years, will help pay for technical program assistance and joint marketing resources, in addition to the district’s four-year certification.
Officials are ironing out specific plans for the grant money, which will take into account factors such as art medium and local talent.
A mural, for example, can cost thousands of dollars, Colton Dennis, executive director of the Merced County Arts Council, said. The nonprofit manages the Merced Multicultural Arts Center at 645 W. Main St. and is the lead organization overseeing the district’s development.
“I just walked past the John Pugh mural here at the Cookies (Merced Dispensary) over here. I mean, that was tens of thousands of dollars right there, right?” Dennis said.
While the program might not be enough for a mural exhibiting Merced’s cultural diversity, Dennis said he hopes the money will be used to further values such as equity in and access to the local arts.
“The downtown is the heart of any city,” Dennis said. “If that’s strong, then all these other places would be strong,” he said.
Access to Merced’s arts
El Cid operates out of Cien Ojos Studio at 1740 Canal St. The building is operated by a collective of creative entrepreneurs who host cultural events and sell their merchandise out of the space.
Patricia Pratt of Kreepy Kawaii Designs, one of the studio’s founding members, said a map illustrating the major art stops in Merced along with basic artist contact information would be invaluable.
“…A lot of artwork doesn’t have that, and you have to research a lot and go backwards to find it,” Pratt said. “I think that if there’s a map or something that just gives information on how to get a hold of artists, it could possibly bring more revenue to the city for the arts sector.”
Among the nine other districts chosen by the California Arts Council (CAC) were the “American Indian Cultural District” in San Francisco and the “Historic South Los Angeles Black Cultural District” in Los Angeles County.
For the full list of new districts, with a designation period from Jan. 1, 2026 to Dec. 31, 2030, visit the CAC website.
“I’m proud of Merced for getting this recognition – it is a really big deal,” Pratt said.
