Strategic Partners
Cross-sectoral partnerships play a critical role in the success of cultural districts. Partnerships at all levels, local, regional and state; and as such, partnership development will be a critical component of this program. The California Arts Council has established official strategic partnerships with Visit California and the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) which will provide increased visibility and marketing support for the pilot cohort, and improved understanding and access to Caltrans resources for cultural district events and for local identifiers such as public art or signage, respectively. Significant and substantive local partnerships will be a key factor in the selection of certified cultural districts.
Visit California Partnership Details
General Organizational Benefits – The California Arts Council and Visit California may collaborate in the following ways:
- Governance – sharing best practices for programmatic and promotional related activities.
- Advisory – providing guidance for organizational activities and efforts.
- Leverage – utilizing strategic partnership to foster mutually beneficial opportunities as they arise.
Evaluation of Potential Certified Districts – Visit California representative invited to serve on the adjudication panel as part of the review and selection process for district certification.
Benefits for Certified Districts – Recipients of the State of California Cultural Districts Certification may benefit from inclusion in the following Visit California initiatives:
- Promotion at California Welcome Centers.
- Inclusion in Visit California promotional efforts as appropriate.
- Inclusion in Visit California press efforts as appropriate.
- Inclusion in Visit California public and industry events and presentations as appropriate.
Other opportunities as mutually agreed upon by the California Arts Council and Visit California.
Caltrans Partnership Details
Recipients of the State of California Cultural Districts certification may benefit from access to the following Caltrans resources:
Transportation Art and Community Identifier Programs – Certified Cultural Districts in municipalities where participation in the Caltrans Transportation Art program is feasible will have access to Caltrans liaison services provided by the California Arts Council. These services may result in technical assistance for Districts to navigate the application process for the Caltrans Transportation Art and Community Identification programs. This may include the development of murals and other public art projects as well as aesthetic features on Caltrans properties.
Street Closures on Caltrans Properties – Certified Cultural Districts in municipalities where state highway street closures are proposed for festivals or other public cultural activities will have access to Caltrans liaison services provided by the California Arts Council in order to process closure and access requests.
Signage – Certified Cultural Districts in municipalities where Caltrans signage is feasible per the California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) will have access to Caltrans liaison services provided by the California Arts Council. The California Arts Council and Caltrans will work to provide technical assistance to determine if Certified Cultural Districts are eligible for signage based on the MUTCD.
Other opportunities as mutually arranged by the California Arts Council and Caltrans.
Additionally, a Caltrans staff representative will be invited to serve on the adjudication panel as part of the review and selection process for district certification.