The non-partisan Arts in the California Governor’s Race campaign recently launched! This campaign was started by a coalition of arts organizations around the state and already has broad support.

Our purpose is to raise public awareness and inform the 2010 gubernatorial candidates about the significance of California’s creative industries in fueling the world's 8th largest economy. (Legislative Analyst's Office, Cal Facts 2006).

Our goal is to educate both the public and the 2010 gubernatorial candidates about the important roles of quality public education, non-profit public/private partnerships, and small business in ensuring a robust creative economy.

The arts in California includes entertainment, fashion, toys, digital media, video games, books and music stores, architecture, interior design, industrial design, and communication arts, as well as fine and performing arts. Just to name a few.

The economic impact of the arts in California, in both for-profit and non-profit sectors, is paramount to California's success. California's creative economy ranks 3rd of all 50 states (California's Creative Vitality Index, WESTAF) yet California remains 50th out of all 50 states in per-capita funding for the arts (California Arts Advocates).

Here are just a few statistics about the creative sectors around Los Angeles:

* Nearly 1 million direct and indirect jobs ---one in every six in the area---- are creative-sector jobs.
* $121 billion in creative-sector sales/receipts were generated in Los Angeles County and $18 billion in Orange County.
* Over $5.1 billion in state and local tax revenues were generated from the creative sector.


With numbers like these, the importance of investing in the arts cannot be overstated. We are trying to spread the word far and wide to encourage voters and candidates alike that this is an issue that needs more attention. Please check out www.CAArts.org to find out more about the campaign. You can also find us on facebook and twitter!

If you are able to help spread the word (through your blog, facebook, twitter), it would be fantastic! If you have any questions about the campaign, please contact our field activist, Jackie Koppell, at jackie@CAArts.org or by phone at (917)817-4418,