Joint Committee on the Arts and the Assembly Committee on Arts, Entertainment, Sports, and Tourism joint informational hearing

                            Arts, Culture, and the Humanities: How Federal Policies Impact California’s Creative Economy

SACRAMENTO, CA – Today, the Joint Committee on the Arts and the Assembly Committee on Arts, Entertainment, Sports, and Tourism will hold a joint informational hearing to analyze the different ways federal policies are affecting the state of the arts here in California.

When: Wednesday, May 14, 2025 | 9 a.m. - Noon

Where: 1021 O Street, Sacramento, CA 95814, Hearing Room 2100

Livestream will be available at: https://www.senate.ca.gov/calendar

The public hearing will provide overviews, testimonial, and data from leading experts who represent vital sectors in our arts ecosystem, including Erin Harkey, CEO of Americans for the Arts, and Joely Fisher, National Secretary-Treasurer of SAG-AFTRA. These updates will highlight how funding disruptions and policy changes are impacting California’s creative economy.

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Ben Allen represents the 24th State Senate District, which consists of the Westside, Hollywood, coastal South Bay, and Santa Monica Mountains communities of Los Angeles County.

Assemblymember Chris Ward represents the 78th Assembly District, which includes San Diego and El Cajon.

Full Agenda:

Opening Remarks

• Senator Ben Allen, Chair, Joint Committee on the Arts
• Assemblymember Christopher M. Ward, Chair, Assembly Arts, Entertainment, Sports and Tourism
• and other members as present

Overview and Update on the Status of the Arts in the United States

• Erin Harkey, CEO, Americans for the Arts
• Joely Fisher, National Secretary-Treasurer & Co-Chair National Government Affairs and Public Policy Committee, SAG-AFTRA

Panel 1: Federal Arts Agencies: The Relationship with California Agencies

• Rick Noguchi, Executive Director, California Humanities
• Greg Lucas, California State Librarian, California State Library
• Danielle Brazell, Executive Director, California Arts Council

Panel 2: Community Voices/Policy Impacts

• Leslie A. Ito, Executive Director, Armory Center for the Arts
• Jacob Kornbluth, Documentary Screenwriter & Director, Jacob Kornbluth Productions
• Edward Tepporn, Executive Director, Angel Island Immigration Station
• Carlos Cristiani, Director, Corporate & Government Affairs, Fleet Science Center
• Ann Burroughs, President & CEO, Japanese American National Museum

Panel 3: Valuing and Elevating the Arts

• Adam J. Fowler, Founding Partner, CVL Economics
• Jennifer Caballero, Executive Director, California Association of Museums
• Julie Baker, CEO, Californians for the Arts

Public Comment

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