Merced, CA (December 16, 2025) — Downtown Merced has received statewide recognition after being selected as one of 10 new California Cultural Districts, according to the California Arts Council.
The designation is awarded to areas that demonstrate a strong presence of arts, cultural organizations, historic resources and creative activity. State officials said Downtown Merced stood out for its concentration of cultural assets and ongoing efforts to support local artists and community-based programming.
Along with the designation, Downtown Merced will receive $10,000 in grant funding, access to technical support and inclusion in statewide promotional efforts aimed at strengthening cultural tourism and local economies.
Merced is one of 10 districts selected in this latest round. The other districts named by the California Arts Council include:
- American Indian Cultural District, Yelamu (San Francisco)
- Arts District Liberty Station (San Diego)
- Black Arts Movement Business District (Oakland)
- Dos Rios Arts and Culture District (Modesto)
- Downtown Oxnard Cultural District (Oxnard)
- Historic South Los Angeles Black Cultural District (Los Angeles)
- Riverside Arts and Culture District (Riverside)
- San Jose Japantown Cultural District (San Jose)
- Watsonville Cultural District (Watsonville)
The California Cultural Districts program was created in 2015 to support places where arts and culture play a key role in community identity and economic development. With the addition of this year’s districts, the program now includes 24 designated cultural districts statewide.
