California Arts Council

The Legislative Joint Committee on the Arts will host an informational hearing this Thursday, presenting “California's Future is Creative: Strategies for Cultural Resilience, Economic Growth, and Global Leadership,” the state's first strategic plan for the creative economy.

Strategic planning was led by the California Arts Council, in partnership with Institute for the Future, who facilitated meetings of the Creative Economy Workgroup and led an extensive research process.

The hearing can be viewed online through the Senate Live Streams and available to watch after the meeting close via the Senate Media Archive.

Join us this Friday at 10AM at the Nevada County Library in Nevada City - or online! - for our next Council meeting.

On the agenda: the CAC's 2027-2032 Strategic Plan; the Native American Artist Grant Program; the Folk and Traditional Arts Program, and more.

Offer your input during the meeting or submit in writing. Details at: https://arts.ca.gov/about/council-meetings

Can you believe it’s already been a week since we filled Sacramento Memorial Auditorium & Governor's Mansion with so much creativity, community, and celebration? 🎉

The California Arts Council 50th Anniversary Awards still feel like yesterday—and we’re still riding that energy. From unforgettable performances to honoring the artists and leaders shaping California’s cultural future, it was a night we won’t forget anytime soon.

Here’s to 50 years of impact—and everything still to come.

Still thinking about last night ✨

The California Arts Council 50th Anniversary Celebration at Sacramento Memorial Auditorium was everything you’d want from a milestone like this—loud, proud, and full of creative energy.🎨

We celebrated the visionaries who started it all, including Peter Coyote, Suzanne Jackson, William Allaudin Mathieu, Gary Snyder, and Luis Valdez—plus honoring the legacies of Ruth Asawa, Karney Hodge, Alexander Mackendrick, and Noah Purifoy🎉

And the 2026 honorees? Absolutely stacked: David Geffen, Mildred Howard, Barbara Kruger, Magic Theatre, Cheech Marin, Charles Ray, Sage Romero, San Jose Taiko, Josie Talamantez, and again Luis Valdez.

Special shoutout to our Chair & MC of the day -- Roxanne Messina Captor ()

Add in unforgettable performances by and , and yeah… this wasn’t just an anniversary—it was a full celebration of California’s creative legacy and future.

Big news for the arts 🎨 — Governor Gavin Newsom has officially declared 2026 the 50th Anniversary of the California Arts Council!

Here’s to five decades of creativity, culture, and the artists who keep California inspired ✨

Power. Joy. Legacy.

For more than 50 years, San Jose Taiko has moved audiences in California and around the world with unforgettable artistry and cultural impact.

Proud to honor San Jose Taiko as part of the California Arts Council’s 50 Years of Creative Impact.

Correction: We previously shared an incorrect image. The post has been updated with the correct photo.

Two opportunities left to learn more about the critical role of a CAC grant panelist! Get your questions answered before you apply: Join our office hours TODAY at 3 p.m., or next week on Friday, April 17 at 1 p.m. Applications are due by April 27. Learn more at https://arts.ca.gov/grants/panels.

Get ready for an amazing performance from on April 20th at the CAC 50th Anniversary Award Ceremony!🤸

For tickets, link is in bio.