California Arts Council

State of California

WEBSITE MAINTENANCE NOTICE: On Monday, Nov. 2, the California Arts Council is transitioning to a new web design. During the changeover, www.arts.ca.gov may be temporarily unavailable. We appreciate your patience as we work to launch our new site.


Mission, Vision, Values

Strengthening arts, culture, and creative expression as the tools to cultivate a better California for all.

A California where all people flourish with universal access to and participation in the arts.

  • Community - Authentic intergenerational and intersectional connections
  • Accessibility - Inclusion, simplicity and ease, resulting in equitable participation
  • Aesthetics - Recognizing all art forms and artistic traditions that enable full and meaningful creative expression
  • Autonomy with Accountability - Empowered, responsible generation and allocation of resources
  • Relevance - Broad influence, bold leadership and synergizing collaboration for the present, with a sharp eye toward emerging developments and needs of the future
  • Equity - Service according to need to prioritize racial injustice, representation and visibility of all groups
  • Sustainability - Wise, impactful and responsive growth

    • STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK

    Related: Strategic Framework

    The California Arts Council’s (CAC) Strategic Framework has been developed to guide our work for the next seven years. Titled Creative Impact: The Arts & the California Challenge, the framework encompasses several aspects, including a new mission, vision, and values statements; a racial equity statement; a decision support tool; and a set of aspirations for potential future actions of the Council and agency.

    Read the press release

    view the framework