AB 1382: State-designated cultural districts.

Existing law, the Dixon-Zenovich-Maddy California Arts Act of 1975, establishes the Arts Council, consisting of 11 appointed members, sets forth the duties of the council, and authorizes the council, among other things, to accept federal grants and unrestricted gifts, donations, bequests, or grants of funds from private sources and public agencies for the purposes of encouraging artistic awareness, promoting the employment of artists, and providing for the exhibition of art works in public buildings. Existing law requires the Arts Council to establish criteria and guidelines for state-designated cultural districts, as defined, to establish a competitive application system by which a community may apply for certification as a state-designated cultural district, and provide technical assistance and promotional support for state-designated cultural districts.

This bill would require the Arts Council designate a permanent ongoing staff person to develop, support, and strategically plan the state-designated cultural district program described above. The bill, upon appropriation by the Legislature for purposes of the program, would authorize the Arts Council the expend program funding for staff, program analysis, planning grants, evaluations, building out the program, and providing guidance to emerging cultural districts.

This bill would require the Arts Council to create an interdepartmental advisory group to support state-designated cultural districts and would require the advisory group to work with other agencies, including the Department of Parks and Recreation and the Department of Transportation to facilitate signage for state-designated cultural districts. The bill would require the advisory group to work with Visit California to promote state-designated cultural districts as tourism destinations. The bill would require Visit California to feature state-designated cultural districts in at least one publication per calendar year and to work with the Arts Council to develop an online interactive map and visitors guide for each state-designated cultural district.