California's creative minds have an open invitation to shape the future of the state's arts and culture economy. The California Arts Council is embarking on a statewide journey, stopping in Sacramento for an up-close discussion on the newly minted Creative Economy Strategic Plan. Anyone with a stake or interest in the creative sectors is urged to attend and voice their concerns, according to the Sacramento City Express article published today.
The capital city will play host to an in-person gathering from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Feb. 4 at the Memorial Hall inside Memorial Auditorium. For those who can't make the physical event, a virtual counterpart will commence on Feb. 5 from 1-3 p.m., focusing specifically on the Capital region. Considering the significance of these sectors to the broader California economy, the events promise to blend cultural resilience with economic ambition, aiming to uphold California's global stature in the arts.
Local engagement is not just encouraged; it's integral to the plan's success. Feedback collected from these communal forums will be presented to the Governor's Office and State Legislature in the spring of 2026. Jason Jong, cultural and creative economy manager for the City of Sacramento, emphasized the significance of this participatory process. "This convening is an opportunity for Sacramento’s creative workers, organizations and businesses to ensure their experiences and priorities are reflected at the state level," Jong told the Sacramento City Express.
California for the Arts, in partnership with the California Arts Council and the City of Sacramento's Office of Arts and Culture, is leading the charge on this engagement tour. Participants at the upcoming events can expect updates from representatives of the Creative Economy Workgroup, and local government officials. The planned sessions include dialogues facilitated by officials such as Elmy Bermejo, director of the California Office of the Small Business Advocate, and Lex Leufheit, cultural policy adviser for the City of Oakland, aiming to connect local experiences to statewide policy objectives, as detailed by the Sacramento City Express.
Those who are interested in contributing to the state's cultural roadmap have ample resources at their disposal. Additional details about the statewide tour and the initiative behind the Creative Economy Strategic Plan can be found on the Creative Economy of California website. To ensure accessibility, some sessions may feature live translation services.
