Insights from the Field: California's Creative Economy Workgroup

California's Creative Economy deserves robust, thoughtful, state-level support so that its workers can thrive. Established in last year’s budget, California's Creative Economy Workgroup (CEW) is tasked with "developing a strategic plan which will conduct a comparative analysis with other jurisdictions, evaluate existing financing models and government initiatives, identify opportunities for educational programs as well as earn and learn job training employment, detail the geographic areas with the least amount of access or opportunity for a creative economy, and analyze existing initiatives and projects, including the role that local governments can play in creating a stronger creative economy." The strategic plan is due to the Legislature by June 30, 2025.?

I'm honored to be an appointed member of the CEW, which convened at El Teatro Campesino in San Juan Bautista on October 15th. Colleagues who were unable to attend encouraged those of us who were there to share out. So, below are a few highlights from the abundant insights offered by the group of artists, labor representatives, policy workers and public commenters who were present. Discussion was framed within four domains: policy, technology, markets and networks.

These notes represent my personal perspective and not the perspective of the CEW. If you’re reading this, please check out the official meeting summary and graphic recording once they are available!

The next meeting of the CEW will be held around January 17, 2025, at that time a draft plan will be reviewed. Updates are shared on the California Arts Council CEWG web page, where you can also sign up to stay informed: https://arts.ca.gov/programs/creative-economy-workgroup/.

??VOICES FROM THE FIELD

Practitioners from around the state shared examples of community impact through their work. Highlights included:

• "Acornomics," an indigenous-led, culturally-centered economic framework for sustainable development.
• Destination Crenshaw's vision for an economic and cultural revitalization of the Crenshaw corridor, with 100 artist commissions and meaningful support for Black-owned businesses through local hire policies.
• Meow Wolf's evolving practice of designing and play-testing immersive experiences with artists as they plan for a new Meow Wolf in Los Angeles.
• Roshaun Davis' experience scaling from working independently, to touring, to operating a thriving event and cultural production agency, Unseen Heroes, grounded in showing love to Sacramento.

Along with many other examples from invited panelists and presenters, including:

• Andrea Hansen, Executive Director, Kern Dance Alliance
• Heather Heslup, Director of Public Art Programs, Destination Crenshaw
• Jennifer Laine, Executive Director at San Benito County Arts Council
• Michael Borys, VP of Interaction Design, 42 Entertainment
• Miki'ala Catalfano, Co-director, Native Roots Network
• Roshaun Davis, CEO/Founder, Unseen Heroes
• Tyese M. Wortham , Director of Community Engagement, Community Arts Stabilization Trust
• Stephen Smith , Creative Strategist, Meow Wolf

Between presentations, workgroup members documented their own insights, ideas and examples. California Arts Council Executive Director Danielle Brazell encouraged us to get all ideas "on the table," which was literal thanks to facilitation by Institute for the Future.

A sampling from the discussion:

??HOUSING

Tyese Wortham, Director of Community Engagement at Community Arts Stabilization Trust (CAST) presented on their work using 477 Minna, a cultural center secured through a developer's community benefits agreement, as an example. She mentioned that they are working with Californians for the Arts on a state definition of artists for potential use in the affordable housing eligibility process.

The high cost of space and living in San Diego is identified in Creative City, San Diego's draft cultural plan, as the number one challenge. At the CEW convening, San Diego arts commission Executive Director Jonathan Glus referred to active work on artist housing happening there as well.

??ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY

Labor representatives, film and digital media employers expressed urgency around the loss of companies and jobs, especially but not exclusively around Los Angeles. Comparisons were made to Detroit and Toledo, as example of once-thriving cities that have lost industries that provided quality jobs. Adam Fowler, founding partner of CVL Economics, was present and is engaged in research on the early impacts of generative AI on the creative industries.

????QUALITY JOBS AND EMPLOYMENT

Many questions were raised and unanswered, the need for more data was a theme. Unique characteristics of creative sector work, such as contract employment and the tradition of workers having multiple employers, present barriers to understanding whether apprenticeships into arts and entertainment sector will result in long-term wealth and prosperity.

What's undeniable is that many people choose creative sector work and value this work. According to a Data Brief released by the California Labor Lab, as of May 2023 1,132,174 people (5.9%) in California held a job in either an arts-related occupation or industry, or both. There was robust support for explicitly identifying the creative sector across the state and in regional workforce strategies.

??INITIATIVES AND INCENTIVES

A number of state initiatives for Creative Workforce and Economic Development are underway. The CEW Agenda Packet includes a list of , beginning on page 16.

Workforce apprenticeships in arts and entertainment were of particular interest. For government purposes, apprenticeships combine paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction to prepare workers for highly-skilled careers, typically pathways into organized labor (union) jobs.

Building off of Career Technical Education in schools. Los Angeles has secured two state grants for Arts, Entertainment and Media apprenticeships through the California Opportunity Youth Apprenticeship Grant:?

• House of Blues w/ Music Forward Foundation has a pre-apprenticeship implementation grant for stage technicians
• Better Youth, inc. has a pre-apprenticeship implementation grant for animator/illustrator, game design, media artist

??BUILDING UPON WHAT WORKS

Support was expressed for the impact of successful California Creative Corps investments. While some participants have been able to leverage local and philanthropic dollars to continue, there was also interest in a "version 2.0" investment to build on the many economic, organization and cultural assets created as a result of the original Creative Corps investments.

If you read this far, thank you for your interest! Please consider spreading the word about the Creative Economy Workgroup, and signing up for information from California Arts Council. Last but certainly not least, I hope you will consider utilizing public comment at the January meeting to share what CA’s creative economy means to you.

- Lex Leifheit