Mission

The Arts Council of Sonoma County inspires our community to recognize and embrace the power of the Arts to enrich our lives, enhance our economic development and add value to our educational programs.  The Arts Council provides leadership in support of the growth and accessibility of all art and artists in Sonoma County.

History

The Arts Council of Sonoma County was founded in 1983 as a nonprofit organization and countywide agency to provide leadership and support for the arts and culture of our county. At our inception, the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors designated ACSC as the partner in the California Arts Council’s program. The Council serves as the countywide coordinating agency for cultural arts information, programs, services, technical assistance, and communication.

The Big 26

2010 marks the Arts Council’s 26th year serving  Sonoma County. From humble beginnings we have spent the past quarter of a century and then some growing our original mission—to promote the visual arts and arts education—into a broader and more inclusive mandate to support and assist all of the arts in our community.

We remain committed to the goals that drive us as an organization:

• To provide more opportunities for participation in arts experiences and improve arts accessibility to the residents of our diverse county.
• To support smaller arts groups and individual artists.
• To build support for arts education in Sonoma County.
• To increase public support for and investment in the arts.
• To increase business engagement in support of Sonoma County’s arts.

2009 was a tough year for the Arts Council, as it was for nearly all arts and non-arts based organizations. Yet we in the arts community are no strangers to hardship and uncertainty, and as an organization we have been inspired to use even more of our creativity to push beyond the current financial challenges and work proactively to fulfill our mission. We are grateful for the support of our many members, collaborators, and allies as we redouble our efforts and renew our resolve.