Watsonville, CA —December 18, 2025 – Downtown Watsonville has been named one of California’s 10 newest state-designated Cultural Districts. The designation recognizes communities with distinctive arts and cultural identities and supports the growth of local creative economies.
Watsonville is one of 10 new districts selected this year, bringing the total number of Cultural Districts in California to 24. Communities are chosen through a competitive, equity-focused process that evaluates community partnerships, local history, and the strength of arts and cultural programming.
“This recognition confirms what our community already knows — that arts and culture are at the heart of Watsonville,” said Nick Calubaquib, Deputy City Manager for the City of Watsonville. “We are proud of our artists, culture bearers, and community partners, and we look forward to sharing Watsonville’s story more widely across California.”
The Cultural District designation will provide the City of Watsonville with $10,000 over two years, official state certification, technical assistance, and access to statewide marketing and promotional resources. The designation offers a platform to strengthen local partnerships, expand opportunities for artists, and amplify the city’s rich arts and cultural life.
“This designation gives well-deserved recognition to decades of work by Watsonville artists and culture bearers,” said Jim Brown, Executive Director of Arts Council Santa Cruz County. “While the City of Watsonville leads this initiative, the Arts Council is proud to provide support and resources that help connect, sustain, and amplify the community’s efforts.”
Downtown Watsonville’s Cultural District reflects the city’s long-standing connection to arts, history, and cultural traditions. The district is characterized by:
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Community-Led Arts and Culture: Local artists, organizations, and residents collaborate to produce public art, festivals, and events that reflect Watsonville’s identity and shared history.
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Strong Agricultural and Cultural Roots: Situated in the Pajaro Valley, one of the world’s most productive farming regions, the city’s arts celebrate both agricultural heritage and cultural diversity.
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Arts That Strengthen Community: Programming emphasizes connection, healing, and opportunity, engaging youth, families, and the broader community while preserving cultural heritage.
The City of Watsonville supports arts and culture through its Public Art Program, Cultural Arts Fund, and the Downtown Watsonville Specific Plan, which prioritize historic preservation, welcoming public spaces, and community events as pillars of civic life.
The Cultural District designation not only recognizes Watsonville’s vibrant artistic identity but also underscores the importance of partnerships, infrastructure, and strategic support that enable communities to thrive. It is a testament to what can be achieved when city leadership, local artists, and arts organizations work collaboratively to nurture a sustainable and socially vibrant cultural ecosystem.
Learn more about California’s 24 state Cultural Districts: caculturaldistricts.org
Learn more about the City of Watsonville Public Art Program: https://www.watsonville.gov/1854/Public-Art
About Arts Council Santa Cruz County
The Arts Council nurtures and invests in artists, culture, and the arts, building a stronger Santa Cruz County where all artists have access to the resources they need to thrive. We work to ensure that a full range of creative expression is accessible to everyone, and that the arts are recognized as essential to a healthy, vibrant, and representative community.
Through grants to artists and arts organizations, arts education programs serving over 18,000 youth across the county, and community initiatives such as the annual Open Studios Art Tour, the Tannery Arts Center, and the Watsonville Center for the Arts, we help Santa Cruz County’s creative ecosystem flourish.
Learn more: artscouncilsc.org
