All kinds of advocacy programs
Get involved in programs across the state
From Arts, Culture, & Creativity Month to the California Nonprofit Performing Arts Grant Program, there’s no shortage of programs for arts advocates to engage with. Explore all the programs California For The Arts has to offer.
Grassroots Artists Advocacy Program
The Grassroots Artists Advocacy Program (GAAP) is a cohort-based fellowship program for artist advocates that live or work in Oakland or San Francisco. Artist Advocates include diverse artists, culture bearers, and creative workers with a dedicated and committed artistic or cultural practice who directly engage in advocacy and policy development to advance the holistic well-being of the field. Applications for Cohort 3 are now closed.
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Arts, Culture, & Creativity Month
April is Arts, Culture, & Creativity Month – a month of free events, resources, and advocacy opportunities across the state with the goal of engaging arts advocates and raising awareness of the impact of the arts within communities. From press conferences to group discussions, we shared talking points and resources for having effective meetings with your state representatives.
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CA Arts & Culture Summit 2027
Join artists, cultural workers, advocates, and policymakers from across the state for a 3 day Arts, Culture, & Advocacy extravaganza to strengthen collaboration, advance cultural policy, and reaffirm the critical importance of arts and culture to California's economy and civic life in Sacramento on April 28 - 30, 2027.
Arts & Health Initiative
The field of arts in health is a diverse and multidisciplinary area focused on improving health and healthcare experiences through the arts. It incorporates literary, performing, and visual arts, as well as design and other creative expressions, into various healthcare and community environments to promote health and wellbeing across different settings.
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Performing Arts Equitable Payroll Fund (PAEPF)
We are no longer accepting applications for the Performing Arts Equitable Payroll Fund (PAEPF). Senate Bill 1116 (Portantino) (Government Code 8757) established PAEPF to support small nonprofit performing arts organizations (SNPAOs) with adjusted gross revenue under $2 million, in hiring and retaining employees. Applications were received on a first come, first served basis.
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Creative Economy of California
CA for the Arts is pleased to have been selected as one of the regional partners for The California Arts Council (CAC) Creative Economies in Action: 2025 Statewide Engagement Tour. This comprehensive tour is designed to drive the implementation of California’s first Creative Economy Strategic Plan.
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Regional Advocacy Infrastructure Network
The Regional Advocacy Infrastructure Network (RAIN) seeks to reinforce advocacy capacity and efficacy at the local, state and federal levels by designing new models of collaboration with groups and organizations whose primary focus is at the local (county and municipal) level.
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Regional Conversations
Regional Conversations bring together artists, arts organizations, creative workers, businesses, and supporters of arts and culture across the state.
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California Nonprofit Performing Arts Paymaster
CA for the Arts, through the California Arts Council, has secured a state grant to build a nonprofit paymaster service for small theaters, symphonies, ballets, operas, chorales, dance companies, music organizations and other performing arts organizations throughout the state of California.
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