California Arts Council

The California Arts Council is a state agency governed by an 11-member council appointed by the Governor and the state Legislature to advance the state through the arts and creativity, with an emphasis on children and under-served communities.

It was created in 1975 by Governor Jerry Brown, [http://www.petercoyote.com/keynote.html] who dissolved the existing 15-member California Arts Commission, which had been in existence since 1963. [http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0021-8510(198010)14%3A4%3C35%3ATAITAO%3E2.0.CO%3B2-5]

Role

Arts Council members and staff have experience in the arts, creative industries, arts education, community development, state and local government, and the nonprofit and for-profit sectors. Some of the visual and performing arts associated with the California Arts Council include music, dance, theater, movies, video, graphic arts, painting, sculpture, poetry, design, photography, literature, architecture, crafts, cultural festivals, and animation.

The state agency encourages widespread public participation by supporting professional artists who work in all areas of the state, helps build strong arts organizations at the local level, assists with the professional development of arts leaders, promotes awareness of the value of the Arts, and directly supports arts programs for all citizens, including children.

California has more arts-related businesses and more people employed in the creative industries than any other state. The film industry, arts and design sector, computer-related companies, general entertainment ... every part of the economic landscape is touched by the Arts. The nonprofit arts sector alone provides $5.4 billion in economic activity annually, supporting more than 160,000 jobs and generating $300 million in local and state revenue.

The California Arts Council has information about programs for both artists and the public on its website at [http://www.cac.ca.gov/ www.cac.ca.gov] . Included are information resources, arts news, special initiatives such as the California Poet Laureate, descriptions of grant programs and events such as California Arts Day which occurs on the first Friday of October during National Arts & Humanities Month, and Arts Education Month in March.

Members of the public are also welcome to attend the meetings of the California Arts Council and voice their support and concerns about the Arts in California. Meetings are held throughout the state on a rotating basis, and information is posted on the website.

Council members

*Marcy Friedman, Chair
*Michael Alexander, Vice-Chair
*Dr. Jerrold Hiura, Vice-Chair
*Annette Bening
*Carlos Martinez
*Eunice David
*Phyllis F. Epstein
*Malissa Feruzzi Shriver
*Steven J. Fogel
*Barbara George
*Michael Rubel

Directors

Each director is appointed by the Governor of California.

*Muriel Johnson (2005-Present)
*Juan Carrillo (Served through 2005)

ee also

*Arts council

External links

* [http://www.cac.ca.gov/ California Arts Council website]