For Current ACCM 2023, click here

APRIL IS ARTS, CULTURE & CREATIVITY MONTH IN CALIFORNIA

In 2019, Californians for the Arts (CFTA) successfully campaigned for the state to recognize and celebrate the arts by declaring April as Arts, Culture & Creativity Month (ACCM) through a concurrent resolution passed in the California Senate. In 2021, an additional resolution was declared to recognize artists as second responders.

CFTA directs this annual month-long spotlight on the arts to raise visibility and awareness about the value of our sector, to empower arts advocates to take action, and to spur greater investments in our industry and workforce.

We celebrate and elevate our impacts through media campaigns and calls to action that increase our visibility and change the way that the arts are perceived.
We lift these impacts to the Capitol during Advocacy Week, where arts delegates meet with legislators to press for their support.

We activate the state with training and toolkits that spur local actions and increase the capacity for arts advocates to effect change.
We educate with messaging campaigns and related webinars that generate discourse and new strategic possibilities for positioning the arts, culture and creative workers as essential partners in helping California address challenges and meet its promise.

ACCM 2022 | The Arts Work

This year’s theme, “The Arts Work,” will provide weekly opportunities to explore and establish how the arts work to heal, to build community, to advance justice, to empower youth and to create jobs. Each week will feature theme-based messaging campaigns to create public awareness and webinars featuring panel discussions with thought leaders and practitioners. New to ACCM 2022 is The Arts Work Showcase, which invites artists and organizations of all disciplines to submit their projects as examples of these themes to a gallery on our website. This new program intends to uplift creative workers and honor their work with weekly drawings for a cash prize.

Start here and keep scrolling down! Download the ACCM logo above and add it to your website, letterhead, emails and social media during the month of April. Be part of a movement and share your support for celebrating and recognizing the value and impact of arts, culture and creativity in your community.

5 WAYS TO ENGAGE IN ACCM 2022

🗓 VIEW our training video: How to Engage in ACCM 2022
🗓 SUBMIT a project to the ACCM 2022 | The Arts Work : Showcase (Submissions Closed)
🗓 ATTEND weekly thematic webinars (every Friday through 4/29) View here
🗓 SIGN UP to be an Advocacy Week Delegate for your District
🗓 APRIL 25-29 | PARTICIPATE in advocacy week by taking action: meet, tweet, write!

ACCM 2022 | The Arts Work: Webinars + Programs

The Arts Work Webinar Series takes a deeper dive into how artists, arts workers and culture bearers work to create vital social impacts and what the creative workforce needs to succeed and thrive in California. Each Friday at Noon in April, our 2022 webinars bring together a panel of thought leaders and practitioners around the impact themes to share their change making work and to discuss new strategic possibilities and the policy changes that we should be thinking about.

ACCM 2022 | The Arts Work: Toolkits + Resources

Our goal is to activate the state and make it easy and educational for you to participate in ACCM2022. Use the following FREE toolkits and resources to generate a social media campaign, get your local government to proclaim April as Arts, Culture & Creativity Month, learn how to conduct a visit with your legislator and leverage local media to support getting your community talking about the value of the arts.

2022 Legislative Summary: This guide will help you to understand the primary budget proposals and legislation we are supporting this year and what we are asking the Legislature and Administration to support.

Local Proclamation Guide: Get your local city or county excited to be a part of a statewide celebration. This guide provides all you need to help your local government pass proclamation declaring Arts, Culture & Creativity day or month. You’ll

A Guide to Successful Advocacy: Provides delegates with advocacy tools to ensure a successful meeting with your California legislator and/or their legislative staff. California elected officials and their staff want to understand the effects of th

ACCM 2022 | The Arts Work: Showcase

New to ACCM 2022 is The Arts Work: Showcase, which invites artists and organizations of all disciplines to submit their projects as examples of these themes to a gallery on our website. This new program intends to uplift creative workers and honor their work with weekly drawings for a cash prize. For more information on what you can share in the online gallery and how to participate visit here.

The Arts Work Showcase Social Media 1.jpg

The Arts Work Showcase Social Media 3.jpg

ACCM 2022 | Take Action During Advocacy Week, April 25-29

Contact Your Representatives During Arts Advocacy Week - CFTA Has All The FREE Tools!

Help us raise the visibility of the importance of funding for arts, culture and creative workers by reaching out to your legislators and asking for their support during Advocacy Week (April 25-29). We have all you need to hold a meeting, write a letter, send a postcard or make a phone call. All of these actions make a huge difference, especially during this critical time of state budget negotiations.

Let’s Activate the State! Here is how:

Sign up for Action Alerts - Sign up to receive letter templates, phone call scripts and social media post templates with content related to ACCM and be ready for future advocacy actions
Host a Postcard Party - Get a postcard to print and send as well as a toolkit with talking points
Meet with Your Legislator - Get all you need to schedule and organize your meeting
Get Ready For Advocacy Week Meeting | Wed. April 20th | 4 - 5:00pm FREE on Zoom
If you have further questions, email Tracy at tracy@californiansforthearts.org

Get Ready For Advocacy Week | FREE on Zoom
Wednesday April 20th | 4:00 - 5:00pm LINK TO REGISTER

Learn About the Issues & Budget Asks: A Conversation For Advocates Taking Action During ACCM

Discuss the issues, learn the budget asks and talking points and share tips & resources for effective advocacy to get ready for Arts Advocacy Week (April 25-29). This Zoom meeting is meant to support everyone who is participating in legislative visits, calling legislators, writing letters or submitting op-eds in support of state arts policies. CFTA policy leaders will be on hand to answer all questions and get everyone excited to create change.

ACCM 2022 | The Arts Work: Sponsor

Become a Sponsor & Amplify Arts, Culture & Creativity Month

ACCM Sponsors are our vital partners in elevating the visibility and impact of ACCM, developing and activating arts advocates, and educating the public and elected officials on the value that arts, culture and creative workers create in our state. ACCM Sponsors are our vital partners in elevating the visibility and impact of ACCM, developing and activating arts advocates, and educating the public and elected officials on the value that arts, culture and creative workers create in our state. With direct reach to over 20,000 engaged arts advocates in the State and networks to hundreds of thousands arts organizations, creative businesses, arts workers, cultural bearers, elected officials, funders and arts patrons– your sponsorship puts you in front of committed and influential arts, culture and creative industries leaders.

We look forward to working with you to create a customized Sponsor Visibility Package that honors your support.

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS

ACCM 2022 | The Arts Work: California Arts Champion Awards

Californians for the Arts is bringing back the Arts Champion award where we recognize state arts and culture policy leaders.

Stay tuned as we announce the 2022 awards for statewide policy leaders for arts advocacy.

Past Legislative Arts Star Award recipients include

2019

Assemblymember Richard Bloom
Senator Scott Wilk

2018:

Senator Ben Allen
Senator Jim Nielsen

2017

Assemblymember Ian Calderon

*Note: in 2020-21 : No awards were issued