ABG in February

Arely Lopez
Mar 10
5 min read

We're doing something a little different this month...

Our team realized we’ve given you glimpses—little tastes, if you will—of the work happening behind the scenes. But now we’re ready to serve the full meal, starting with one of our most multi‑dimensional, multi‑year projects.

Did you know that ABG Art Group is the team shaping and growing the City of Emeryville's very first arts and cultural district? Yup, you read that correctly - and you've probably already heard of it.

We're eager to share the lessons and projects that have defined one of ABG's biggest undertakings.

Buckle up and join us on this journey!

WHAT WE MADE

Rotten City Cultural District Program Recap Video

https://vimeo.com/1161966037

Allow us to level-set...

The California Cultural District program was developed by the California Arts Council in partnership with Visit California and Caltrans. The California Arts Council is a state agency dedicated to advancing California through the arts and creativity. With a focus on accessibility and inclusivity, the Council supports diverse artistic expressions to enhance the quality of life for all Californians.

This is where we came in!

The City of Emeryville commissioned ABG Art Group and District Works to establish and launch the Rotten City Cultural District (RCCD)—one of just fourteen state-recognized cultural districts. The district's mission is to advance the arts and culture within California, with Emeryville as a central hub for dedicated makers and innovators committed to creative and artistic expression, economic development, and community building through the arts.

Now, you might be asking: “Why Rotten City?”

Great question! The Rotten City Cultural District honors the City of Emeryville's transformation from a post-industrial wasteland to a vibrant cultural hub—hence the slogan, “rotten city builds fertile ground.”

Why is this model of collaboration important?

This ambitious public–private partnership represents a bold approach to cultural development; one we hope will serve as a case study for other Bay Area cities and beyond. It demonstrates the power of civic leadership not only working hand‑in‑hand but also empowering creative organizations and individuals to lead the visions and creations of their environments, such as arts and culture districts. By placing artists and cultural leaders at the forefront of shaping these spaces and allowing them to exercise their strengths in placemaking, community engagement, and workforce development, Emeryville has established a model that shows how collaboration can transform cities and spaces into thriving centers of creativity, innovation, and connection.

And if you’re reading this thinking, WAIT… I WANT THIS IN MY CITY, just know that we believe you can—and we’d love to help you make it happen. Contact us to explore how the RCCD model can take root in your city.

An Identity and Purpose for RCCD

The first step in establishing the RCCD was to listen to the Emeryville community. We conducted studio visits, met with committed partners, and collaborated with local creatives to host a series of events focused on gathering input on what they wanted to see in the district. This information informed the development of RCCD's visual identity, mission statements, and website. We also created brand guides which were shared with our partners to ensure we all communicate a consistent message about what the district represents and its future goals, while also establishing an iconic and recognizable visual language.

An Established Physical Space and Hub

What's an arts and cultural district without a space? I guess we'll never know *cue 2005 Kanye West*

However, what we do know is that having a home base is an essential part of producing meaningful district programming. The RCCD headquarters is a flexible event and gallery space at the highly visited Bay Street shopping center. Visit us at 5616 Bay Street, Unit 5610 (ground floor beneath the AMC Theatre). The space will host events, screenings, workshops, and more.

Picture yourself hosting a creative activation at the Rotten City Cultural District Hub?

Connect With Us

A Free and Dynamic Creative Database

We believe that creatives need tools to expose their work to broader audiences, so that’s what we built

We created a one-stop digital hub for district information, resources, and events. The website, rottencityculturaldistrict.com, contains all of the above. It features a creative resource page linking to available grants, district events, and housing initiatives, along with an active calendar of RCCD and partner events. The database of local creatives and businesses has already proven to be an invaluable resource. Members can create their own accounts, update their information and profiles, and connect with others directly. Several artists have already secured local private commissions through their database profiles.

Join the Creative Database

A Catalogue of Existing Public Art and Pocket Map

When was the last time you actually stopped and smelled the roses? What about stopped and admired the artwork in your city? Well, we have a great idea for you.

Consider doing an art walk with your loved ones! The City of Emeryville has over 600 pieces of beautiful artwork including temporary and permanent murals, interactive art, sculptures, and installations coloring the streets of Emeryville.

For added convenience, download the virtual art map below.

Download the Virtual Art Map

Cultural Activations

We're going beyond visual art at RCCD. Community members emphasized the desire for movement, music, economic opportunities, and ways to provide feedback, and we're making that happen! Through the Cultural District Program, RCCD plans to produce four marquee events that will engage and highlight the district. The first of these was the Bay St. Block Party, which featured live performances from eight local bands, an art market with over 12 vendor and information booths, a place to provide feedback on public art selections, a gallery exhibit, live sculpture painting, two permanent exterior murals, a five-hour salsa party, and much more!

Don't you worry though - there's plenty more on the way.

Events

Established an Artist Residency Program

During our outreach, one request was made loud and clear: "a space to display and sell work." In response, we launched the RCCD Artist Residency Program -- a series of creative takeovers where selected artists activate the space by working inside it, producing exhibitions, and showcasing their work.

With excellent foot traffic, this residency space offers artists a powerful opportunity to connect with audiences and sell their work directly. While the applications for the current cycles are now closed, we encourage folks to stay in the loop. We have exceptional artists taking over the space all of 2026 and plenty of opportunities to stay connected. We will be announcing said artists on March 19th!

WHAT WE HAVE COMING

Emeryville Film Festival - March 21st!

Year two of the Emeryville Film Festival is approaching and tickets are selling quickly. Celebrate Bay Area creativity and storytelling during this one‑day festival which takes place at the AMC on Bay St in Emeryville. This film festival features six curated blocks of documentaries, animation, and live‑action films from local filmmakers, highlighting themes of resilience, innovation, humor, and the cultural richness of our region.