Regional Advocacy Infrastructure Network (RAIN), which encompasses the Grassroots Artists Advocacy Network (GAAP) and the Regional Program Manager (RPM) initiatives, and Arts, Culture & Creativity Month (ACCM), featuring the CA Arts & Culture Summit and Arts Advocacy Day. Special initiatives focus on Arts & Health, Arts & Space, cultural districts and artist employment programs. These core programs are supported by research, technical assistance, and public awareness campaigns. Programs and services are based on the following goals:
1) To elevate the role of the arts as essential infrastructure for addressing societal challenges.
By positioning the creative sector as essential infrastructure—akin to education, healthcare, and transportation—we ensure that artists, arts organizations, and culture bearers are recognized as vital partners in addressing complex issues like economic development, public health, climate resilience, and community healing.
2) To ensure policies and civic solutions are informed by the creative sector’s perspectives and assets, leading to more innovative and equitable outcomes for all Californians. Creative thinking, cultural competency, and human-centered design are inherent assets of the arts community. By bringing the perspectives of artists and culture bearers to the policymaking table, we prevent the creation of siloed, ineffective solutions.
3) To sustain a culture of continuous advocacy to secure the necessary public investment and legislative support for California’s arts and culture ecosystem. A sustained culture of advocacy—rooted in robust data, compelling storytelling, and broad coalition-building—is the only way to secure long-term, stable public funding and pass legislation that addresses the sector’s needs, from protecting creative workers’ rights to investing in cultural equity.
4) To strengthen the civic leadership and engagement of artists and culture bearers, making them active partners in shaping the state’s future. Empowering artists and cultural leaders to see themselves as civic agents transforms them into active shapers of policy. This includes providing training, resources, and platforms for engagement.