Richard Stein Appointed to the California Arts Council by Gov. Newsom
- Paul Hodgins
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
Richard Stein of Arts Orange County has been appointed to the California Arts Council by Gov. Newsom. Stein has served as the President and CEO of Arts OC for the past 17 years and will retire from that position next month.
The California Arts Council is the state's only public arts grants provider. Established in 1976, the CAC's mission is to "strengthen arts, culture, and creative expression as the tools to cultivate a better California for all." It supports local arts infrastructure and programming statewide through grants, programs, and services.
Stein is the first Orange County member of the CAC since prominent philanthropist and lawyer Wylie Aitken left the council in 2015. He assumes the position at a challenging time.
The CAC's Local Assistance Funding program has been frozen at $26 million for seven years, a level that is only $0.67 per California resident. Governor Newsom's initial budget proposals included substantial cuts to the arts, including a proposed 58 percent reduction to California's state arts programs. This included a $10 million reduction to the CAC, decreasing its funding from $26 million to $16 million. Public outcry and advocacy led to a revised budget that reduced grants by $5 million in 2024-25 and 2025-26, with a promise to restore full funding in 2026-27.
“It’s truly an honor to be appointed by Governor Gavin Newsom to serve on the arts council governing body," Stein told Culture OC. "The agency has enriched our state’s arts and culture in many ways, and has a bright future. I follow in the footsteps of past Orange County residents and friends who previously served on the California Arts Council: Harvey Stearn and Wylie Aitken, as well as LA’s Malissa Shriver, who grew up in OC. I look forward to contributing my time and effort to advancing the continued development of our statewide creative sector through my service on the Council.”
Richard Stein is currently the advisory board chair for Culture OC. He will step down from this position when he retires from ArtsOC.
