Incorporated in 1978, the Merced County Arts Council was operated originally from a small office space on Main Street. In 1996, the City of Merced entrusted the Arts Council to manage the Merced Multicultural Arts Center. In addition to operating this 28,000 sq. foot, multipurpose arts center, the Arts Council manages an arts-in-education program; an arts facility for adults with developmental disabilities; performances and visual/performing arts classes for children and adults; professional support for artists through fiscal sponsorship; exhibits of about 20 professional artists each year; and newfound coalitions for visual and performing artists.

The Multicultural Arts Center, lovingly known as the MAC, has been the arts and cultural hub of Merced since its opening in 1997. Managed by the Merced County Arts Council, the MAC is home to:

The Enrichment Center, a day program for artists with disabilities
The Arbor Gallery, a co-op of local artists
The Merced Academy of Dance
The Bear Creek Ukulele Society
Local theater groups
LGBTQ+ groups
Local artists and so much more.

The MAC offers a wide variety of classroom, conference, and general meeting spaces to meet all of your creative, personal, and professional facility needs as well as four art galleries, a black box theater, and a serving kitchen. The Multicultural Arts Center is truly a multi-use facility that can handle almost any event.