Participate in advocacy actions in response to the Governor’s budget announcement

Get to know your elected officials - Research their interests, committees, and what is important to them. Strategize how the arts align with and/or could serve your elected officials’ priorities.

Ask your city or county to recognize April as Arts, Culture & Creativity Month with a local proclamation

Attend and make public comment at the February California Arts Council meeting to put on public record with the state about what the field needs.

Call/email three family members or friends and ask them to help in future advocacy efforts.

Attend a school board meeting and ask how are they implementing Prop 28 locally and ensuring access for all students

Attend and make public comment at the March California Arts Council meeting to put on public record with the state about what the field needs.

Download the ACCM Activate Public social media toolkit and share weekly posts to amplify the impact of arts, culture and creativity in California and to your community

Join us at the Capitol for the CA Arts & Culture Summit & Advocacy Day (April 22, 23)

Thank your legislators for attending your events and/or meeting with you during your April in district meetings and invite them to your summer events

Share the outcomes of your in district meetings and Proclamations with CAA!

Research your local government’s budget cycle, and make a plan to advocate.

Identify legislators who are arts champions and invite them to be honored at an upcoming event.

Revisit your personal story that you use when developing relationships with elected officials. What was your first exposure to the arts? Why did you become an arts advocate? What data do you always want to share when first meeting with elected officials?

Schedule an in district meeting with your U.S. Congress representative while they are in district.

Schedule an in district meeting with your state legislator while they are in Interim Study Recess.

Plan an event to celebrate the CAC’s California Arts Day on October 2 (first Friday in October) and invite your elected official to attend.

Schedule a meeting with your U.S. Senator while they are in district in October in celebration of National Arts and Humanities Month 2025 Tentative Senate Schedule

Attend and make public comment at the September California Arts Council meeting to put on public record with the state about what the field needs.

Visit your state legislator or U.S. Senator in the district office and invite him/her and/or staff members to an event.

Attend and make public comment at the October California Arts Council meeting to put on public record with the state about what the field needs.

Write and submit an Op Ed for your local paper about how the arts impacted your community

Add your legislators to your holiday card list and invite them to your winter events

Let CAA know of relationships you’ve developed with elected officials and the arts champions you have discovered. This will be useful for planning next year’s Advocacy Day legislator meetings.

Honor your state or local officials as an arts champion during your winter events

Attend a City Council or County Board of Supervisors Meeting to learn more about local priorities and make public comment to the impact of arts and culture in their communities