Arts & Intersections: Casemaking, Advocacy, and the Creative Economy

Join us for a timely conversation for funders who want to better understand how arts, culture, and the creative economy are being advanced through policy and advocacy at the state level.

We’ll be joined by Julie Baker, Chief Executive Officer, and Ted Russell, Program Consultant Lead, from California for the Arts (CFTA). Together, they’ll share insights from CFTA’s evolution into a leading statewide advocacy organization, including recent wins, ongoing challenges, and what they’ve learned along the way.

The conversation will also explore the practical roles and limits of 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) structures, spotlight CFTA programs such as the Grassroots Artists Advocacy Program (GAAP), and surface opportunities for funders to help strengthen San Diego’s arts advocacy ecosystem.

Whether you’re new to arts advocacy or looking to deepen your engagement, this session offers a grounded look at what’s possible when funders, advocates, and artists work in alignment.

Target Audience

This session is open to funders of all kinds, particularly those interested in the arts.

Catalyst is committed to making our events accessible to everyone. Please let us know how we can help you fully participate by contacting Kamaal Martin. 

Speakers

Julie Baker | Chief Executive Officer | California of the Arts

Julie has been the CEO of California’s statewide arts advocacy organizations since late 2018. During her tenure, she has increased the legislative influence and visibility of arts and culture communities by building coalitions across for-profit and non-profit sectors of California’s creative industries. She has championed a month-long arts awareness and advocacy campaign every April and fought for resources and legislation to serve and protect artists and cultural workers. Julie has served in various leadership roles, including California State Captain to Americans for the Arts’ National Arts Action Summit, co-chair of the creative economy working group at the CA Economic Summit, and co-chair of the Western Arts Advocacy network for Creative West, where she is also a member of the Board of Trustees. In 2025, she was appointed to the CalNonprofits Board of Directors. She also serves as Board President of California Heritage: Indigenous Research Project.

Julie Baker’s extensive experience in the arts includes owning a fine arts gallery showcasing emerging artists, co-founding the Flow art fair, establishing Julie Baker Projects, a consulting firm, and curating a world music series at the Crocker Art Museum. Previously, she served as President of her family’s arts marketing firm in New York City and worked at Christie’s Auction house. Her non-profit leadership experience includes eight years as Executive Director for The Center for the Arts, a performing arts organization and the California WorldFest. In recognition of her contributions, she received the inaugural Peggy Levine Arts & Community Service Award from the Nevada County Arts Council..

Ted Russell | Program Consultant Lead | California of the Arts

Ted Russell serves as a nonprofit arts management consultant, strategist and facilitator, offering over thirty years of experience launching and scaling initiatives, building the capacity of organizations and helping artists and creative workers thrive. As Principal of Ted Russell Consulting, he currently focuses on arts advocacy, board training, planning,
research, strategy and coaching.

Previously, he served as Director of Arts Strategy & Ventures for the Kenneth Rainin Foundation, where he led the Foundation’s strategic direction for the arts, supporting diverse, visionary artists and collaborating with artists, partners and funders to advance systemic change and foster an equitable ecosystem. He also served as the Senior Program Officer for the Arts Program at the James Irvine Foundation from 2005 to 2016. He previously worked at several California nonprofit arts organizations and 20th-century dot coms in various management, marketing and fundraising roles.