On October 8th, members of our team — Jennica Bisbee, Field Engagement Coordinator; Jean Young, Communications Coordinator; Teri Ball, Senior Program Manager; and myself, NeFesha Yisra’el, Director of Programs — joined the Arts for LA: State of the Arts Summit at the Japanese American Cultural & Community Center (JACCC).

The theme, Roots, Recovery, and Rejuvenation, resonated throughout the day. The summit began with networking and art activations in the JACCC plaza. It felt like a family reunion as we connected with fellow industry professionals, artists, creatives, culture bearers, and CA for the Arts and CA Arts Advocates board members rooted in Los Angeles’ arts and cultural communities. It was also wonderful to meet new people and expand our growing network as we continue supporting statewide arts advocacy.

A central thread echoed through every part of the summit — from panels and breakout sessions to the inspiring keynote conversation between Arts for LA, CEO Gustavo Herrera and Americans for the Arts CEO, Erin Harkey — the reminder that now, more than ever, we must support and collaborate with one another, and protect the freedom to create and express openly. Across the nation, many arts and culture workers feel an increasing sense of restriction: creating under the threat of backlash, harmful narratives, or even loss of funding and opportunity.

During the keynote, we were challenged to think creatively and radically within systems that can often feel limiting. I appreciated that Arts for LA did not shy away from addressing the realities we face at every level of government. At the summit, conversations centered on advocating for arts and culture and using them as tools to advocate for the good of all people. There was also a call to strengthen collective support within the field, emphasizing that if we do not collaborate in this moment, we will not survive. As Erin Harkey reminded us, “We must radically imagine a future with creativity and innovation, even more so within systems.”

At CA for the Arts, we step into spaces like this to listen, learn, and explore how we can better collaborate, support, and advocate for our fellow arts and culture workers. We bring these learnings into our daily work, in conversations with team members, partners, legislators, policymakers, and program fellows, and through the way we design our programming. We are actively curating our own Arts & Culture Summit, and we deeply value the opportunity to attend Arts for LA’s gathering and think alongside such passionate arts advocates. We look forward to carrying that energy into our 2026 Arts & Culture Summit on April 20 in Sacramento, our fourth year convening more than 500 arts and culture workers and supporters to reflect on and shape the future of our field.

This is a time of restructuring and uncertainty, but also one of opportunity and renewal. Organizations like Arts for LA, CA for the Arts, and countless local advocacy groups play a vital role in speaking up for equity and justice, protecting creative expression, and reminding communities across the state that supporting the arts means supporting life itself. As we move forward, I encourage you to support your local arts advocacy organizations and CA for the Arts — through membership, partnership, or participation in our upcoming summit. Start preparing to celebrate and upliftArts, Culture, and Creativity Month in April. Your voice matters. Your support matters. And your active engagement in advocacy can help shift the tide toward an America we can all be proud of. California is known for its activism, its rich diversity, and its vibrant arts and cultural expression. Let’s show the world who we are and continue carrying forward the traditions of those who came before us.

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