Arts Advocacy Day 2026

Join us on Tuesday, April 21, 2026 at Capitol Park, Sacramento for Arts Advocacy Day, a FREE event hosted by CA for the Arts. This is a vital moment to raise your voice and take action. Arts Advocacy Day kicks off with an energizing rally featuring dynamic speakers and performances. Then we march to the Capitol together to sit down to talk policy with state lawmakers.

Cover: Arts Advocacy Day 2025, photo by Alan Sheckter

WHAT TO EXPECT ON ARTS ADVOCACY DAY

Artists, arts workers, culture bearers, and cultural organizations come from across the state to be a part of Arts Advocacy Day (250 people last year!). 

  • RALLY - Arts Advocacy Day kicks off with an energizing rally in Capitol Park in Sacramento, featuring speakers, performers and lawmakers celebrating the impact of arts and inspiring advocates to press for change.
  • MUSICAL MARCH - From the rally, advocates make merry noise together as we walk from the park to the Capitol.
  • LAWMAKER MEETINGS - Advocates meet in groups with their state representatives to advocate for funding and policies that support our sector.

Arts Advocacy Day is the culmination of Arts, Culture & Creativity Month (ACCM) and is held in conjunction with the CA Arts & Culture Summit on April 20th.


 

HOW TO PREPARE

  • Identify your lawmakers - see below.
  • Register by April 1st to ensure you join a lawmaker meeting! After April 1st, you can join the Outreach Team that drops off informational packets at lawmaker offices.
  • Captains schedule and organize the lawmaker meetings ahead of time.
  • Advocates research their lawmakers and attend the Get Ready to Advocate Webinar.
  • Captains meet with Advocates to organize talking points for their lawmaker meetings
  • CA Arts Advocates provides all the talking points, resources and training you need to have effective conversations!
  • On Arts Advocacy Day, check in when you arrive at the park to get your materials and find your Captains! Or come to check-in and sign up for an Outreach team slot! 

 

WHERE

Rally in Capitol Park and march to the “Swing Space" where lawmakers' offices are located.


 

KEY DATES

  • February 2 - CA Arts & Culture Summit/Arts Advocacy Day Early Registration
     
  • February 4 - Arts Advocacy Day Captain Info Session
     

  • Feburary 27 - Virtual Optional Drop-In Office Hours @ 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm PST
     

  • March 13 - Virtual Optional Drop-In Office Hours @ 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm PST
     

  • March 27 - Virtual Optional Drop-In Office Hours @ 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm PST
     

  • April 1 - Get Ready to Advocate webinar
     
  • April 1 - Last Day for Advocates to Register to join Lawmaker meetings
     
  • April 2-21 - Advocate Registration to Join Outreach Teams
     
  • April 10 - Virtual Optional Drop-In Office Hours @ 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm PST
     
  • April 17 - Virtual Optional Drop-In Office Hours @ 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm PST
     
  • April 21 - Arts Advocacy Day

 

 FIND YOUR LAWMAKERS

Before you register for lawmaker meetings, please identify your lawmakers. Lawmakers want to meet with constituents that live or work in their districts. If your business or organization serves a larger region, you can also meet with lawmakers that represent those areas.

Method #1: Identify Your Lawmakers by District

  • FIND YOUR LAWMAKERS 
  • Enter your home address or business address. 
  • This link will show your federal, state, county, and city representatives. 

Method #2: Organization/Business Serves Multiple CA Cities or a County?
Do you serve or represent the interests of a county or region? To locate your CA State Lawmakers by county:

  • Visit CA State Assembly or CA State Senate and follow instructions for locating lawmakers by county. Each lawmaker’s website will also provide a map of their districts.

The valid email address and cell phone number you provide us will be accessible to staff and other advocates for the purpose of communicating about the lawmaker meetings.

 

WANT HELP GALVANIZING YOUR COMMUNITY TO ATTEND?

Book an in-person or virtual event with a CA for the Arts team member by March 15th. We can create a custom program to get your community excited about Arts, Culture & Creativity Month, Arts Advocacy Day and the CA Arts & Culture Summit. Email Tracy Hudak, Director of Policy and Advocacy at tracy@caforthearts.org to explore options.

 

INTERESTED IN COORDINATING LAWMAKER MEETINGS?

The best way to ensure the meetings are scheduled and successful is to offer your leadership. For more information on serving as a Captain, see Captains Info page. If you have questions about being an Arts Advocacy Day Captain, email Jennifer@caforthearts.org.

 

This page will be updated periodically - check back soon as more details are confirmed!


 

ABOUT THE LOCATION

California State Capitol Park

Capitol Park contains an abundance of memorials, monuments, and points of interest to remind us of California’s history and natural beauty. Plentiful walkways crisscross this 40-acre park so that visitors from near and far may admire its defining features and relax under the shade of its magnificent trees.

Advocates will check-in at California State Capitol Park to kick off Arts Advocacy Day with inspiring speakers and live performances. Following the kickoff, we will march to the Capitol and attend scheduled meetings with lawmakers, guided by your team captains.

1300 L St, Sacramento, CA 95814

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS


Sponsor ACCM

Interested in supporting ACCM? Our Sponsorship Package outlines all the ways you or your organization can help support this statewide celebration of arts, culture, and community. With flexible sponsorship opportunities to match every level of giving, there’s a place for everyone to contribute and make an impact in the arts.

For more information, please contact NeFesha Yisra'el, Director of Programs, at nefesha@caforthearts.org.