04/19/2026
Art has always been the hammer that shapes democracy.
Through murals, music, poetry, theater, and performance, artists give voice to the hopes, struggles, and dreams of our communities. They inspire civic participation, confront injustice, and hold open the space where change becomes imaginable. In our darkest moments, artists help us see past the present — and take action toward a better future.
Creative expression is also part of a broader industry that needs support like any small business. Art work is real work — and the performing arts are a real workforce. Small, community-based theaters are where local stories live, emerging artists are trained, and communities gather to see themselves on stage. Post-COVID, many are still fighting to survive.
Workforce policy is inseparable from broader cultural policy. The Performing Arts Equitable Payroll Fund (PAEPF) helps community theaters stay afloat — offsetting payroll costs so artists can keep creating and small theaters don't go dark. In its first year, PAEPF revealed an unmet need of $40 million. The demand is real. The gap is urgent.
Join us in calling for $40 million to recommit to the PAEPF — to protect arts workers, stabilize the industry, and keep California's stages alive for the stories that shape our future.
When we fund the arts, we strengthen the equality, representation, and freedom that define our democracy.
Learn what you can do today! Visit: caartsadvocates.org/take-action
