The Arts, Equity & California’s Creative Economy
A recap of the first meeting of the state’s Creative Economy Workgroup
On Friday, May 17, 2024, the California Arts Council (CAC), the Creative Economy Workgroup (CEW) and the Institute for the Future (IFTF) gathered in-person, for the first of three intensive working meetings to develop a strategic plan for California’s Creative Economy due to the California Legislature by June 20, 2025. With nearly full attendance by the 35+ member body; discussions, frameworks, and key insights began flowing immediately at the Santa Monica Annenberg Beach House, where the first convening was held.
The CEW is chaired and their work is overseen by CAC Executive Director, Danielle Brazell, and the work of the group is aligned with with the CAC’s seven-year Strategic Framework — which holds Racial Equity at its core. IFTF, the consultant hired to facilitate the year-long process is focusing on the signals and drivers of change to help us respond equitably to the enabling legislation for this work (Section 12 Chapter 9.4). There are in fact some equity-focused directives already embedded in the legislation worth highlighting here including:
· How will this strategy include specific recommendations to reach historically marginalized communities, and incorporate the diverse interests, strengths and needs of Californians?
· Identifying geographic areas with the least amount of access or opportunity for a creative economy.
· Identifying existing studies of aspects affecting the creative economy, including, but not limited to, studies relating to tax issues, legislation, finance, population and demographics, and employment.
Several of the CEW members expressed the following notable equity considerations, expectations, and concerns to the group throughout the course of the day:
We cannot forget about the A (Accessibility) in DEI (Diversity Equity Inclusion)
“One quarter of adults in California have a disability. We are living and working longer, and the longer we live, the more likely we are to acquire a disability.”
One member encouraged the workgroup to, “listen to the multi-cultural, multi-racial, youth led initiatives already inside the creative economy.”
As a teacher, another member expressed how important visibility, access, and representation is in this work. They always ask students the following question: “Which Asian Americans have you studied or know something about?” To date, not one student has raised their hand.
Another member emphasized the importance of art programs designed and implemented by and for the intended community, (not by others for them).
A recent study was mentioned that highlighted the intergenerational impacts of Artificial Intelligence (AI) indicating that AI was more harmful to younger artists, than older artists.
Several members mentioned overarching film industry contraction concerns and that they are working to offset disproportionate impacts on DEI representation after the impacts of COVID-19 shutdowns and the strikes last year that led to the exportation of the film industry to other states and countries.
We were reminded that we are “working in systems that are broken and have been in place since before many of us were born — this is about breaking down barriers.”
On a hopeful note, one member prompted the group to consider how the arts can be a tool for racial and community healing and encouraged everyone to think more about “supporting and funding local artists who will give back directly to their communities.”
There are many additional takeaways on equity which can be found in more detail in the Summary of the Public Meeting on our website, with these additional equity-infused themes among them:
· Recognizing a wider set of stakeholders (for example, gig, informal and unpaid labor)
· Not losing sight of economic equity (fair pay)
· Creating more expansive metrics and narratives to measure and define success
· Enabling the conditions where creativity can thrive
· Mental health and changing behaviors
· Technology, taxes, and regulation
· Cost of living
· Aging, veterans, incarcerated people, labor, and immigration law
· Skills training and pathways to livelihood
· Environmental concerns, places, spaces, and financial models
When it comes to equity, the intersectionality of the work that lies ahead for the CAC and the CEW is clear — and it’s also clear that our CEW members don’t want to leave anyone behind. The work group’s next meeting is October 15 and will be held in Central California. And while the equity asks and tasks before them are big, we look forward to the actionable recommendations that are about to emerge from this group to benefit the ongoing creative economy of our state.
Keep up with the progress of Creative Economy Workgroup and the California Arts Council by subscribing to the Creative Futures Newsletter, a bi-weekly publication dedicated to sharing the foresight findings of the CAC and CEW with its members and the public.
