Staff
Meet your state arts agency staff
We are the staff of the California Arts Council. More than that, we are artists. And activists. And cultural workers. And community organizers who—just like you—understand the power and the capacity of creative work to lift up our state’s diverse communities. It’s our job to invest in you, the individuals and arts organizations that keep California unique, healthy, and vibrant.
Anne Bown-Crawford
Executive Director
Responsible for agency administration; implementing the mission and the strategic vision of the California Arts Council; oversight of all agency policy and programs; local, state and federal level inter-agency activities; state and national legislative relationships; public information; Council support and representation; leadership of civil service staff; and actions requested by the Office of the Governor, Legislature, and other state agency directors.
Ayanna L. Kiburi, M.P.H. (she/her)
Deputy Director
Primary advisor to the Council and Director. Oversees the agency’s administrative and programmatic operations. Responsible for identifying and implementing long-range plans to address the resource needs required to support the California Arts Council’s mission and Strategic Plan.
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Coordinates press and outreach efforts. Editor of Arts Council newsletter and blog.
Implements the agency’s racial equity plan and priorities and provides strategic direction for institutionalizing racial equity.
Manages communications, marketing, creative content, external collaborations, outreach, public events, and special initiatives of the agency.
Reception, office supplies procurement, and storage of CAC records.
Responsible for the agency’s budget, expense monitoring and revenue tracking.
Coordinates Arts and Cultural Organizations General Operating Relief, Artists in Communities, Arts in Public Media, Creative California Communities, Organizational Development, Professional Development, and Veterans in the Arts.
Annastasia Wolfe Griffin, M.A. (she/her)
Policy and Records Management Coordinator
Responsible for coordinating agency policies and procedures as well as overseeing records management.
Responsible for the California Arts Council’s information technology, including governance, infrastructure, and functionality.
Serves as agency’s liaison for Legislature, Office of the Governor, and constituent groups. Monitors and analyzes relevant legislation and responds to requests for information.
Supports the agency’s outreach and event efforts.
Coordinates Administering Organization- Relief for Individual Artists and Cultural Practitioners, Arts and Cultural Organizations General Operating Relief, Individual Artist Fellowship, Statewide-Local Partnership, Poetry Out Loud, Artists in Schools, Artists in School, Exposure, Artists in School, Extension, Artists in School Integration Training, and Youth Arts Action.
Graphic design and branding support for the agency. Coordinates use of agency logo.
Manages Arts in Corrections activities and contracts. Liaison for CDCR inter-agency partnership. Coordinates the Arts in Corrections contracts/procurement and program development and monitoring.
Accounting and grant payments.
Coordinates JUMP StArts, Impact Projects, Statewide Regional Networks, Cultural Pathways, and Local Impact.
Manages agency budgetary and fiscal operations. Oversees the development and implementation of State facility and office management policies, protocols and procedures.
Provides technical assistance and general inquiry support for all grant programs. Supports all grant panel activities.
Administrative support for grant programs.
Administrative support for Arts in Corrections. Coordinates Arts in Corrections procurement, contracts, and invoices.
Agency’s budget analyst and human resources coordinator.
