A Celebration Of Cultural Artistry

WE ARE MERCED – “The Story Is Us” is a FREE admission community event generously supported by the California Creative Corp’s Heartland Grant. In response to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the arts communities, the California Arts Council allocated $60 million to create the California Creative Corps. This pilot program was given the charge to distribute these funds over the following 2 years to 14 Administering Organizations across the state. The United Way of Merced County embraced the opportunity to apply to become an administering organization, and was chosen to represent Merced County. Recognizing the depth of the need in the Central Valley, the United Way of Merced County partnered with the Merced Arts Council and the Arts Councils of Stanislaus and Tuolumne counties to create the HeARTland Creative Corps. We are honored to be among the 17 recipients of the Heartland Grant in Merced County.