Statement of Values 

The California Cultural Districts program aims to assist Californians in leveraging the state’s considerable assets in the areas of culture, creativity, and diversity, as initially set out in the enabling legislation, AB 189.  A cultural district is generally understood as a well-defined geographic area with a high concentration of cultural resources and activities.

In implementing the certification of cultural districts in California, the California Arts Council will take actions that express the following values:

• We encourage the cultivation of a broad array of authentic and sustainable cultural districts that reflect the breadth and diversity of California’s extensive cultural assets
• We support the retention of homegrown assets and actively work to mitigate displacement for groups such as artists, low-income residents, and arts organizations
• We support the utilization of the arts as a tool for preservation in order to fortify and protect local socio-economic diversity, cultural diversity, and ethnic diversity
• We seek to identify, support, and connect centers of arts and cultural activity throughout the state through the certification process
• We strive to provide increased access to the arts and culture through the preservation and development of cultural centers throughout the state
• We foster increased opportunities for artists, craftspeople, and other small businesses contributing to local economies
• We strive for local enhancements to the built environment that increase resident’s pride and stewardship of place by helping to foster remarkable places
• We contribute to increased public awareness of, and public participation in, California’s centers of cultural activity
• We uphold and maintain the value of authentic and diverse community representation amongst the leaders and decision-makers in California’s centers of cultural activity