Arts Council for Monterey County, Arts Council Santa Cruz County, and San Benito County Arts Council Announce Public Town Hall in January; Part of Statewide Initiative to Shape California’s Creative Economy Future
Local Voices to Inform the Next Phase of California’s Creative Economy Strategic Planning
Watsonville, CA – Together with Santa Barbara-based facilitator Hannah Jacobson Blumenfeld, San Benito County Arts Council, Arts Council Santa Cruz County, and Arts Council for Monterey County are proud to be key regional partners for the California Arts Council’s Creative Economies in Action: 2025 Statewide Engagement Tour. This vital initiative will build upon California’s first Creative Economy Strategic Plan, driving deep community engagement and storytelling to inform a comprehensive addendum to be submitted to the Governor’s Office and State Legislature in the Spring of 2026.
The Creative Economies in Action tour is designed to expand upon the initial goals and action areas proposed by the Creative Economy Workgroup. The Tri-County Town Hall will take place on Saturday, January 10, 2026 (10am-1:30pm) at the Watsonville Center for the Arts. It will play a crucial role in gathering critical community insights and identifying innovative practices within the Tri-Counties in the Central Coast region, helping to build a field-informed policy and communications infrastructure that truly reflects the needs of California’s creative sector.
“I am incredibly excited to engage with creatives across the Central Coast to lift up the local work that is already being done and continue to build connections and community around it,” said Blumenfeld. “The Creative Economies in Action tour provides a crucial opportunity to ensure that this plan reflects the specificity of this region and shine a light on both the needs and the bright spots in our six counties.”
“The arts are a fundamental part of our Central Coast economy. This critical collaboration between the Tri-County Arts Councils and the California Arts Council ensures the statewide plan accurately champions the unique needs of our local artists and creative entrepreneurs,” shared Jacquie Atchison, Executive Director of the Arts Council for Monterey County (Arts4MC). “Uniting our voices is the only way to build policy that makes a truly meaningful impact right here at home.”
Blumenfeld and the Tri-County Arts Councils are working closely with the California Arts Council and its strategic communications partner, Serotonin Creative, to coordinate regional town halls, conduct inclusive outreach, and gather invaluable community input. This collaborative effort will help shape a compelling and cohesive statewide narrative that underscores the economic power of the arts.
We strongly encourage all who are involved in the creative industries (including nonprofit, for-profit, funders, and industry organizations) across Monterey, San Benito, and Santa Cruz Counties, to participate in upcoming town halls, webinars, and surveys. Your input will directly shape the future of California’s vibrant creative economy. Registration for the upcoming January 10 town hall in Watsonville is available via Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/creative-economy-town-hall-listening-session-central-coast-tri-county-tickets-1680954583409?. There will also be a virtual town hall on Wednesday, January 28 from 6 to 7:30pm for those who are unable to make the in-person event. A comprehensive calendar of events, direct registration links, and additional opportunities to provide input are available at the dedicated website creativeeconomy.arts.ca.gov and widely shared via the CAC’s newsletters and social media channels.
Press Contact:
Hannah Jacobson Blumenfeld
Regional Engagement Manager, Central Coast Region
hannahjacobsonblumenfeld@gmail.com
202-253-3330