What are Regional Conversations?

Regional Conversations are convenings that take place across the state of California, organized by Californians for the Arts. They bring together artists, arts organizations, creative workers and businesses, and supporters of arts and culture to hear updates on legislation affecting the sector, to learn about advocacy, and to share what is impacting arts and culture in each community. 

The program began in response to COVID-19 and its catastrophic impact on arts and culture as a way to quickly disseminate information and to speak to colleagues in each region about business model shifts, funding sources, and reopening challenges. These issues continue to be pressing as recovery from the impacts of the pandemic has only just begun and funding is still being distributed. Thus, Regional Conversations remain important spaces to ensure resources reach communities, and to continue to advance advocacy within the arts and culture sector in ways that benefit not just the field, but local communities. 

Regional Conversations | Winter 2022

Arts Policy & Funding Updates, Local Opportunities + You

Join Californians for the Arts this Winter for another round of Regional Conversations! These programs are our critical link to YOU: your work, your organization, your challenges, and your aspirations. Each event will feature CTFA updates on policy, advocacy, and funding opportunities, as well as a listening session to hear from attendees about the issues impacting their work. We will also provide information on new catalytic initiatives such as the Community Economic Resilience Fund and California Creative Corps. The more voices that are in the conversation the better for arts advocacy!

Link to Winter 2022 Video Playlist

New! This Winter there are three opportunities to join us in person (or via Zoom) in Northern and Southern California! - FREE

CFTA is partnering with local leaders to bring you in-person CFTA Regional Conversations along with discussions on local initiatives and opportunities. Click the links below to learn more about the events and our partners. We hope that you can join us!

Attend in-person or access on Zoom by registering.

Redwood Coast Regional Conversation 
Wednesday, November 16th  |  12:00 -  4:00pm  
Morris Graves Museum of Art, Eureka CA  

North State Regional Conversation 
Thursday, November 17th  |  1:00 -  5:00pm
Old City Hall/Shasta Co Arts Council, Redding CA  

Southern Border Regional Conversation
COMING IN 2023!
Location: Imperial County (TBD)
Check back for details

2022 Regional Conversations

Connect, Collaborate & Unify

January 11 - February 17, 2022

Regional Conversations 2022 resurfaced many ongoing challenges in the field of arts, culture, and creativity in the State of California, including scarcity of funding opportunities, especially for rural areas, small budget organizations, and low income communities. There was a general sentiment across the state that grantmaking processes are too difficult and inaccessible and it takes too long to receive grant payments. Loss of revenue due to COVID-19 continues to burden organizations and incurred costs due to canceled programs. Compliance with AB 5 also seems to jeopardize the professional practice of many independent performers, small organizations, and ethnically-specific dance troupes. There is continued vulnerability in the creative workforce with short staffed organizations and low job retention. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are also prominent concerns and the ability to authentically engage towards meaningful change.

Link to 2022 Video Playlist

2021 Regional Conversations

Unifying Our Voice for the Arts

(February 19 - March 25, 2021)

The 2021 Regional Conversations brought to the forefront urgent challenges facing the arts and culture industries in California including: lack of funding and lost revenue due to COVID-19, cancelled programs, the vulnerability of the creative workforce, ambiguity on permitted activities under reopening guidelines, and addressing racial equity challenges. Each conversation provided a space to share resources and gather data most impacting each region. As a result of the information CFTA was able to obtain during these sessions, the organization developed more in depth related topic sessions in our annual conference during Arts, Culture & Creativity Month and launched social media awareness campaigns to mobilize and galvanize support for our industry’s needs. California Arts Advocates then lobbied for an historic $1 Billion investment to the recovery of the arts and culture industry and developed legislation, SB 628, CA Creative Workforce Act to ensure California commits to prioritizing the creative industry in workforce development with an emphasis to build more equitable access to creative jobs with a living wage. 

Link to 2021 Video Playlist

2020 Regional Conversations

Reopening and Rebuilding an Equitable and Healthy California for All

(August 3 - 14, 2020) 

The 2020 Regional Conversations focused on assessing the impacts of COVID-19 on our sector. It was also where Californians for the Arts learned that there was a role for us to play as translators of policy decisions that impact the field. From PPP to SVOG, it was clear it was necessary for us to share what funding and policies were being developed at the Federal and State level to address the impact of the pandemic and to learn from arts practitioners what more needed to be done. Participants described the many dimensions of these impacts: the uncertainty, collapsed revenues, cancelled seasons, and the lack of reopening guidelines from the State and shared strategies for how to address them. The 2020 Regional Conversations provided invaluable data and insights into what our field was facing which drove California Arts Advocates to prioritize lobbying for reopening guidelines and direct relief programs. In turn, Californians for the Arts developed a statewide survey to assess the impact and advocacy campaigns such as #ReStartTheArts to tell our story and activate artists, organizations and supporters as champions of a shared cause.

Link to 2020 Video Playlist