When the SBVCA was first founded in 1932, its focus was primarily to contract touring groups, bringing musical and dance performances to the San Bernardino area. A shift happened in 2013, when the SBVCA Board approved the lease for an abandoned adobe building, which was renovated and dedicated as The Garcia Center for the Arts, in honor of Ernest and Dorothy Garcia. The Garcia Center for the Arts is a project of the San Bernardino Valley Concert Association.
Today, the Garcia Center for the Arts is home to a number of creatives and art organizations in the San Bernardino area, such as the San Bernardino Symphony and Arts Connection. The Garcia Center is utilized for many arts-related events, such as theater performances, forums, gallery exhibits, film screenings from the Mexican Consulate, art markets that highlight local artists, as well as classes in ceramics and paint. The Garcia Center is a sturdy foundation for San Bernardino’s art renaissance.