This agenda is for informational purposes. Please review the workshops and choose a workshop when you register for the Pre-Summit.

Strengthening Arts Education Through Policy and Collective Advocacy

Facilitators: Arts Education Alliance of the Bay Area, Create CA, and Friends of Sacramento Arts

Session Time: 12:30 pm - 5 pm

Session Fee: $60

Description:
This full-day arts education preconference is designed for arts nonprofit leaders, teaching artists, and arts educators seeking to strengthen their advocacy skills and deepen their understanding of California’s arts education policy landscape. The day will connect policy context to practical action. Through skill-building, peer learning, and planning time, participants will explore effective advocacy messaging, legislative priorities, and strategies for building strong, community-centered collective advocacy that sustains arts education in schools and beyond.

Transformation from Within: Artists in Government Across California

Facilitators: Stanford U.S. Cultural Policy Fellows

Session Time: 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Session Fee: Free

Description: 
Artists-in-Government programs have been taking root across the United States since the 1970s. In recent years, these efforts have evolved into a deeper commitment to artists as active partners in civic infrastructure—contributing to policy development, community engagement, and creative problem solving inside public agencies.

Join Stanford’s U.S. Cultural Policy Fellows for a four hour pre-conference gathering exploring how artists are leading cross-sector work within government agencies in California and across the country. The session will combine short presentations with open discussion, creating space for collaboration, connection, and shared learning. Together, we’ll examine how artists strengthen public policy by making it more effective, imaginative, and grounded in community experience. We’ll also establish a network to support those interested in furthering these programs in California.
This event is recommended for municipal, tribal, regional, and state government agencies, as well as artists, organizations, and policymakers interested in advancing and sustaining this work

State Local Partner Network Gathering

Session Time: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Session Fee: $100 (includes lunch)

Closed to the Public, open only for members of the State Local Partners Network, all participants must be approved by session organizers after registration.