Dos Rios Arts & Cultural District Among 10 New California Cultural Districts
Modesto, CA– The Dos Rios Arts & Cultural District has been selected as one of California’s 10 new state-designated districts, the California Arts Council (CAC) announced Friday, December 12, 2025. The Dos Rios Arts & Cultural District in Modesto, joins nine other districts added to the Cultural Districts program highlighting thriving and unique cultural and artistic identities within California, home to the country’s leading creative economy, for a total of 24 state districts.
A cultural district, as outlined by the program,is a well-defined geographic area with a high concentration of cultural resources and activities.The10 new districts will amplify the program and expand the original cohort established in 2017 by further representingthecultural legacy of our state's most valuable resource—its diversity—driving cultural,economic, and social vitality.
The Dos Rios Arts and Culture District represents a vibrant and evolving creative corridor in the heart of Modesto, grounded in a distinct cultural identity and a deep commitment to artistic expression, civic engagement, and community vitality. Rooted in the confluence of history, creativity, and place, the District was selected for its clear and compelling creative vision, its strong foundation of cross-sector collaboration with agreed-upon leadership, and its thriving artistic ecosystem that spans disciplines, generations, and communities.
The new Dos Rios Arts and Culture District is centrally located within Modesto’s urban core, encompassing a walkable area of Downtown Modesto and its immediately adjacent neighborhoods. Anchored near key civic, cultural, and commercial corridors, the District is situated within close proximity to historic downtown landmarks, municipal institutions, cultural venues, and locally owned businesses. Its location offers strong visibility, accessibility, and connectivity; serving as a natural gathering place where residents, visitors, artists, and creatives intersect, and where arts and culture are woven seamlessly into the daily life of the city.
“The announcement of our newest California Cultural Districts comes on the heels of the release of The Future of California Is Creative, the first strategic plan for theCreative Economy,” said California Arts Council Executive Director, Danielle Brazell. “Arts, culture, and creative businesses employ people and strengthen social connection which are the conditions for vibrant communities. 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!”
“On the eve of our agency’s golden anniversary—and here in the Golden State—it’s wonderful to have this opportunity to honor the real treasures of California, and the things that we truly value and enrich who we are: diversity, innovation, artistic and cultural expression,” said California Arts Council Chair, Roxanne Messina Captor.
The Dos Rios Arts & Cultural District, overseen by the Stanislaus Arts Council, will receive $10,000 over a two-year period, official state certification, technical assistance, and access to joint marketing and branding resources. The designation period will run from January 1, 2026 to December 31, 2030.
“We extend our sincere appreciation to the California Arts Council and Executive Director Danielle Brazell for their leadership, belief, and investment in our community. The designation of the Dos Rios Arts and Culture District marks not a culmination of the work we are doing in Stanislaus County, but a beginning; one that invites us to imagine boldly, build collaboratively, and illuminate what is possible when creativity is centered as a public good.”, stated Executive Director of the Stanislaus Arts Council Dominique Johnson.
About the California Cultural Districts: The California Cultural Districts program was established through Assembly Bill 189, authored by Assemblymember Richard Bloom and signed into law in 2015, granting the California Arts Council the authority to identify, designate, and promote areas of concentrated cultural activity.
The program helps communities harness their unique cultural assets to stimulate local economies, attract tourism, preserve historic sites, and support vibrant, inclusive creative economies. Districts are selected through a rigorous, equity-centered application process that emphasizes authentic community partnerships, vision clarity, and demonstrated cultural depth.
Selection for the California Cultural Districts was conducted through a multistep process, including an open application phase, a peer panel review, site visits for semi-finalists, and finalist selection. The program is highly competitive and received interest and submissions from dozens of communities across the state.
Learn more about California’s 24 state Cultural Districts at caculturaldistricts.org
The Stanislaus Arts Council is Stanislaus County’s designated state agency’s local partner with a mission to support, promote, and advocate for artists, and creative endeavors of all forms that provide essential cultural activities to our community in Stanislaus County.
CAC Media Inquiries Only:
Kimberly Brown
California Arts Council
Public Affairs
Specialistkimberly.brown@arts.ca.gov
The California Arts Council is a state agency with a mission of strengthening arts,culture, and creative expression as the tools to cultivate a better California for all. It supports local arts infrastructure and programming statewide through grants, initiatives,and services. The California Arts Council envisions a California where all people flourish with universal access to and participation in the arts.
Members of the California Arts Council include: Roxanne Messina Captor, Chair; Leah Goodwin, Vice Chair; Gerald Clarke; Caleb Duarte; Vicki Estrada; Roy Hirabayashi; AlexIsrael; Dorka Keehn; Phil Mercado; Nicola Miner; Rick Stein.
Learn more at www.arts.ca.gov
