Central Valley leads the way in reporting to inform funding allocation for California’s cultural arts
Bakersfield, Calif. – KDA Creative Corps emerged as California’s “model of excellence” in government arts and culture fiscal allocation at California for the Arts’ 2nd Annual Arts & Culture Summit in Sacramento. The Bakersfield-based organization, fueled by its one-time grant from the California Creative Corps pilot program, is leading the way in reporting to inform decision-makers on allocating finances for state cultural arts funding.
Kern Dance Alliance (KDA) was chosen as one of fourteen agencies statewide to administer the inaugural California Creative Corps program. The organization was honored on the California State Capitol assembly floor, where Assemblymember Vince Fong recognized its pioneering efforts in utilizing the arts to better the Central Valleys.
“Their trailblazing programs use the arts to teach math and reading, decrease health disparities and disabilities, and bring hope and joy through the Central Valley,” said Fong.
This prestigious acknowledgment underlines the innovative programs that KDA and the KDA Creative Corps drive, which focus on using the arts to improve the community.
“We are immensely proud of this recognition and remain dedicated to leading transformative initiatives in our region,” said Andrea Hansen, KDA executive director and program director of KDA Creative Corps. “Our advocacy efforts continue, and we are scheduling legislative meetings this spring and summer to advocate for public arts funding in the Central Valleys.”
KDA had the valuable opportunity to engage in meaningful conversations with Assemblymembers Fong and Dr. Jasmeet Bains. During these conversations, they discussed the potential for the arts to transform communities and the importance of legislative support for their initiatives.
KDA discussions with leaders and lawmakers continue to center on the essential continuation of the California Creative Corps. Th
e organization is advocating for the passage of crucial Senate and Assembly bills by sharing the influential KDA Creative Corps data. They are also working to secure additional support for Prop 28 to ensure the proper implementation of public arts education programs, TK-12th grade.
The KDA Creative Corps interim data report was released in February 2024. It found that 652 new jobs in the arts were successfully created in California during the first half of the year. The focus was mainly on communities and census tracts in the lowest quartiles of the California Healthy Places Index (HPI).
You can read that report at https://kdacreativecorps.org/kda-creative-corps-releases-interim-report/
