The California Arts Council announced Thursday that three San Diego areas — Balboa Park, Barrio Logan, and Oceanside — are among 14 statewide sites designated as California Cultural Districts.
Under the new state program, a “Cultural District” is a well-defined geographic area with a high concentration of cultural resources and activities.
“For Balboa Park and Barrio Logan to receive state recognition for richly vibrant and authentic concentrations of art, culture and creativity is a natural outcome of the broad-based, long-term community investment in these neighborhoods,” said Dana Springs, executive director of the City of San Diego Commission for Arts and Culture. “Both Balboa Park and Barrio Logan are beloved by San Diegans and we’re so proud that the state is a new partner in the preservation, promotion and evolution of these San Diego-signature cultural districts.”
“Oceanside is an original, active and eclectic area abundant with cultural resources. Local individuals and organizations work hard to create, promote and sustain cultural assets, quality of life, and economic development,” Oceanside Principal Librarian CJ Di Mento told OSideNews.com.
Each of the districts will receive the designation for five years. Designation, under this pilot launch of the program, includes benefits such as technical assistance, peer-to-peer exchanges, branding materials and promotional strategy.
“State-level designation of Cultural Districts, with California’s diverse geography and regional variety, allowed for an entirely new and comprehensive look at our deeply valued cultural assets,” said Donn K. Harris, California Arts Council Chair. “Each community’s personal and generational commitment to these assets speaks of a state deeply invested in the places and people that celebrate local traditions and creativity.”
Selection for the California Cultural Districts was conducted through a multistep process, including an open call for initial letters of intent, a peer-panel review, site visits for semifinalists and an invited finalist application, according to the city.
Additional new districts will be eligible to apply for state designation in 2019 through a finalized certification process.
See the full list of California Cultural Districts here.
–Staff
