More than 50 artists, nonprofit leaders and residents gathered Feb. 12 at the Garcia Center for the Arts to chart San Bernardino’s next steps after the city’s bid for state cultural district designation fell short, transforming disappointment into a renewed push for funding, infrastructure and long-term investment in the arts.
The San Bernardino Arts Advocacy Gathering, hosted by the Garcia Center for the Arts, Arts Connection and SB Generation Now, marked both a celebration of progress and a candid assessment of what remains missing after San Bernardino ranked No. 19 among more than 80 applicants for a California Cultural District grant in June 2025 but was not selected as one of 10 districts designated by the California Arts Council for 2026 through 2030.
Cities including Riverside, San Diego and Oxnard were among those awarded the designation, which brings statewide recognition and increased opportunities for arts funding, tourism and economic development…