In 1992, a group of artists from Stockton, Sacramento, Lathrop and other cities in the San Joaquin valley came together to form Artistas Del Valle. Each year since then, this group has sponsored gallery exhibits and symposiums. Through their efforts, the general public has been exposed to another dimension of fine art, poetry, music and dance.

The Artistas gain momentum each year. Joining with The Mexican Heritage Center in fall of 1997, this cultural duo established a gallery in downtown Stockton and formed partnerships with such entities as the Crocker Gallery of Sacramento, CA; The Haggin Museum in Stockton, and the Mexican Museum in San Francisco. In October of 1999 The Mexican Heritage Center/Artistas del Valle received the Stockton Top Artist Recognition (Star) Award

"The award notes the pioneering work of the MHC/ADV to make Stockton and San Joaquin County better aware of Mexican and indigenous art forms"