California Arts Council taps Scansion for strategic planning

The California Arts Council has hired Scansion to help develop a new strategic plan that will steer the state arts agency’s priorities, partnerships and grantmaking for the next five to seven years. The work comes as the council marks its 50th anniversary and looks to update a framework that expires in 2027.

Why it matters: - The California Arts Council is setting its direction for the next five to seven years. - The new plan will shape priorities, partnerships, grantmaking and public service across California’s arts and culture sector. - The process comes as the agency works to extend its reach and support creative communities statewide.

What happened: - The California Arts Council awarded Scansion the contract to serve as its strategic planning consultant after a competitive request for proposal process. - Scansion LLC will help the council review and revise its current strategic framework, which expires in 2027. - The planning effort is designed to support agency operations, identify areas for improvement and service, and guide long-term priorities. - The council announced the selection on July 9, 2026.

The details: - The scope includes research, engagement, analysis and planning. - Scansion will gather input from county-designated local arts agencies, known as State-Local Partners, as well as grantees, applicants, CAC leadership, Council members, state agency partners, arts and culture funders, service organizations and other interested parties. - The resulting plan is expected to include a SWOT analysis. - The plan is also expected to outline a partnership framework for State-Local Partners and other networks. - The plan will include a five-year grants strategy. - Recommendations will cover Council committee structure and training. - The plan will set strategic goals with activities, timelines, responsible parties, resources and performance metrics. - The California Arts Council recently marked its 50th anniversary in Sacramento. - The council helped spearhead California’s first statewide strategic plan for the creative economy. - The council expanded its Cultural Districts program. - The council increased in-person outreach and engagement to raise awareness of California’s arts and culture. - The council continued grants and initiatives supporting creative expression in communities, education, state correctional facilities and other settings. - The California Arts Council says its vision is a California where all people flourish with universal access to and participation in the arts. - Scansion describes itself as a people-centered design strategy group that helps organizations imagine, design and achieve impactful solutions.

Between the lines: - The selection signals that the California Arts Council is pairing a milestone moment with a formal reset of its operating roadmap. - The emphasis on equity, stakeholder input and measurable goals suggests the council wants a plan that is both participatory and execution-focused. - Scansion’s role as a “strategic thought partner” points to a process that may influence not just goals, but how the agency is structured and how it works with partners. - Council leaders framed the planning effort as a response to changing needs across the state’s artists, culture bearers and creative workers.

What's next: - Scansion and the California Arts Council will move through research, engagement and analysis before drafting the new plan. - The council is expected to use the process to shape a roadmap for the next chapter of its work. - The final strategy will guide agency decisions once the current framework expires in 2027. - More information is available on the California Arts Council website and language and accessibility assistance.