Arts Funding is on the Line—

Last month, the Governor released the May Revision to California’s state budget. Despite months of statewide advocacy, the proposed budget still does not include the arts and culture investments our communities need. The Legislature can still act—but only if lawmakers hear from constituents now!

We are asking you to take a few minutes today to support a critical statewide budget ask that will directly impact our rural communities.

$50 million for the California Arts Council through the 50 in 50 campaign—This request marks the California Arts Council’s 50th anniversary by calling for a meaningful restoration of state investment in arts and culture.

Importantly for Nevada County, this includes funding for California Cultural Districts — the program that supports our work in both the Grass Valley-Nevada City Cultural District and the Truckee Cultural District.

For us, this funding is not abstract. It helps keep our office doors open in both our Cultural Districts. It allows us to serve our artists, creative businesses, venues, chambers, downtowns, cultural partners, tourism partners, and the wider creative economy across our region. It is the infrastructure behind the year-round work that makes state designation meaningful on the ground.

Here’s how you can help!

We need to light up their phones this week. Our only chance to get these in this year’s budget is to be undeniably vocal and visible to the legislature. They are logging calls as negotiations heat up.

• Action #1 - Call Legislative Leadership - Most important! (5 minutes). You don’t have to be a constituent and these leaders want to hear from you:
  

  —Senate Pro Tem Monique Limón - 916-651-4021

  —Speaker of the Assembly Robert Rivas - 916-319-2029

  —Senate Budget Committee Chair John Laird - 916-651-4017

  —Assembly Budget Committee Chair Jesse Gabriel - 916-319-2046

  Your Call Script: (Feel free to make it your own— The person answering will be logging topic and sentiment, and counting calls!)

  
  My name is [NAME], and I live in [CITY/TOWN].

  I’m calling to urge state investment in the California Arts Council through the 50 in 50 campaign: $50 million for the California Arts Council in its 50th anniversary year, including $10 million for California Cultural Districts.

  This is an urgent moment. The Governor’s budget includes no dedicated new investment for arts and culture, even as local arts agencies, Cultural Districts, artists, creative businesses, and community organizations are being asked to do more with less.

  California’s 24 Cultural Districts support downtown vitality, tourism, youth development, economic recovery, public health, disaster resilience, and civic trust — but they need public investment to do this work at scale.

  Please support $50 million for the California Arts Council, including $10 million for California Cultural Districts, in the final state budget.

• Action #2 - Call Your Representatives Now(2 minutes)

  The Call Action Center will automatically dial your Senator and Assemblymember, based on your voter registration address. Script included - or use your own.

  Your message can be simple:

  My name is [NAME], and I live in [CITY/TOWN]. I’m calling to urge the Legislature to include $50 million for the California Arts Council through the 50 in 50 campaign, including support for California Cultural Districts, in the final state budget. As the resident of a rural California Cultural District, this funding will have a measurable impact on my community. Arts and culture support local economies, jobs, youth programs, downtown vitality, and general well-being. Please prioritize these investments before the budget is finalized.”

Legislative offices track calls. A strong volume of calls over
the next few days can make a real difference.

Make your call before June 12!

You do not need to be an expert. You only need to speak from your community experience and ask lawmakers to include this investment in the final state budget.

This is a numbers game, and this is the moment. If you care about artists, venues, festivals, creative businesses, youth arts opportunities, downtown vitality, cultural tourism, and the future of California’s creative economy, please make a call today!