W e e k l y RIALTO RECORD
Vol 23, NO. 48
July 24, 2025
San Bernardino Hosts Cultural District Workshop to Preserve Arts, Boost Investment, and Fight Displacement By Manny Sandoval
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n July 17, community members, artists, and civic leaders gathered in San Bernardino’s new Sole Alley for a cultural input session aimed at shaping the city’s forthcoming California Cultural District designation.
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Hosted by the Garcia Center for the Arts, San Bernardino Generation Now, and Arts Connection, the workshop was held at Creative Grounds and marks a pivotal moment in the city’s push to preserve its cultural identity, fight artist displacement, and attract economic investment through the arts. The session drew about 20 participants, including Councilmember Mario Flores, Realicore Real Estate Group co-founder David Friedman, Creative Grounds co-founder Duan Kellum, Three Little Blue Birds co-owner Tia Johnson, and artist Steven Bielak. The event was facilitated by Arts Connection Executive Director Alejandro Gutierrez Chavez and San Bernardino Generation Now Community Organizer Miriam Nieto.
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PHOTO MANNY SANDOVAL Arts Connection Executive Director Alejandro Gutierrez Chavez and SB Generation Now Community Organizer Miriam Nieto conversing about community member ideations.
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Responses included nostalgic mentions of swing concerts at the Orange Show Auditorium, the ongoing Inland Empire Film Festival, Orange Show races, and the original Route 66 Rendezvous car show. Michael Segura, executive director of the Garcia Center for the Arts, said the cultural district is about more than recognition—it’s about equity and sustainability. “We want to fight cultural displacement and develop equity along this district,” Segura said. “To develop artist housing and cultural development from museums, galleries, small theaters, coffee shops—using our past and present to generate ideas for the future.” Segura added that the feedback from the workshop will contribute to a cultural asset map, a key step in planning a sustainable and inclusive district for uptown San Bernardino and the Mt. Vernon area. “We’re building a template to create a cultural district in uptown San Bernardino and beyond, to help attract investment and ensure sustainability,” he said. Cultural Dist. cont. on next pg.
San Bernardino Transforms Downtown With $770K Sole Alley, a Community-Driven Arts District of Murals & Culture By Manny Sandoval
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Artist Carolyn Schutter moderated the workshop, which prompted attendees to reflect on their favorite past and present cultural events and envision the future of arts and community in San Bernardino.
Participants wrote their ideas on colorful sticky notes and posted them on boards taped to the alley’s brick walls.
once-overlooked alleyway in downtown San Bernardino has been transformed into a vibrant public art corridor, now known as Sole Alley — a $770,000 investment made possible through the Clean California Grant and collaboration between the City of San Bernardino, CalTrans, Arts Connection, Realicore Real Estate, and local creatives. Located on West Fourth Street between D and E streets in the heart of the city’s Historic Arts District, Sole Alley now features community murals, brick-laid pavement, upgraded lighting, public seating, and a neon-lit archway entrance bearing the words “Sole Alley,” flanked by neon shoes and the phrase “Love and Unity.” “This project represents collaboration, creativity, and community pride,” said Mayor Helen Tran during the ribbon
cutting event on July 18. “Sole Alley is now a destination where people can connect, reflect, and celebrate the people of San Bernardino.” Tran also recognized contributing artist Brenda Angel and added, “A heartfelt thank you to Arts Connection. Your commitment to communitybased art and public engagement made this project possible. You helped bring together so many voices and vision into one powerful experience.” Arts Connection Executive Director Alejandro Gutierrez Chavez emphasized that the project was guided by history and local creativity. “This space carries history,” Gutierrez Chavez said. “For decades this alley has been used by artists to host shows, film videos, paint, gather, and connect with the community. We didn’t create that spirit — we listened to it, followed it, and made space for it to grow.” Sole Alley cont. on next pg.
PHOTO MANNY SANDOVAL Arts Connection Executive Director Alejandro Gutierrez Chavez speaks at the Sole Alley unveiling, highlighting how the project built on decades of local creative energy.