By Cristian Gonzalez
The Urban Hive in Midtown hosted Engage, a Sacramento entertainment and policy summit on Oct. 2., bringing together city officials, council members, creative industry leaders and event organizers to discuss some of the obstacles facing Sacramento’s arts economy.
The evening was filled with passionate discussions centered on the city’s creative economy, specifically the costs associated with organizing special events. The summit was designed to foster collaboration between city leadership and the creative community by addressing regulatory hurdles and exploring pathways to make Sacramento a vibrant hub for the arts. (Solving Sacramento was a co-sponsor of the event.)
This sentiment was echoed by a call to action from Council Member-Elect Phil Pluckebaum, who encouraged attendees to “keep doing cool shit,” emphasizing that the city’s leadership is eager to support creative ventures.
Vice Mayor Caity Maple spoke about the city’s need to invest in creative communities and young people. “How do we make this a city that not only is for young people, but young people want to go to school here, and want to stay here after, that people want to continue to have their careers here,” she asked.
Maple emphasized the need to support creative spaces across the city, including South Sacramento neighborhoods like Stockton Boulevard, Franklin Boulevard and Freeport, which have historically received less attention than downtown.
Addressing systemic challenges
Keynote speaker Megan Van Voorhis, director of Convention and Cultural services for Sacramento, presented an in-depth report of the city’s creative economy. She shared findings that explored the challenges faced by creative entrepreneurs, including underfunding, red tape and lack of access to capital. Sacramento’s creative professionals are “determined to make it work in Sacramento,” but they are also “the most likely to get displaced because of the contributions that they’re making,” she said.
She outlined four main creative personas driving the local economy: polymathic media producers, micro-customizing designers, experience economy organizers and civic life innovators. According to Van Voorhis, these are the types of creatives working at the intersection of technology, social impact and culture, pushing Sacramento’s creative industries forward.
Several city initiatives were introduced, including a creative business accelerator program funded with $750,000 from The American Rescue Plan Act funds, alternative capital models for creative businesses and strategies to incentivize property ownership for creatives.
Van Voorhis also highlighted Sacramento’s reputation as one of the most diverse cities in the country, with a thriving creative economy built by and for its diverse population. She emphasized the need for equitable growth and the importance of supporting creative entrepreneurs — particularly those from BIPOC communities — in order to prevent displacement and ensure that Sacramento’s growth benefits as many communities as possible.
A panel on special events and nightlife
The event featured a roundtable discussion moderated by Alex Torres, state lobbyist for the National Independent Venue Association of California. The panelists included special event operator Chaez Boswell, Assistant Director of Convention and Cultural Services Dustin Hollingsworth, owner of Harlow’s Jim Cornett and Nighttime Economy Manager Tina Lee-Vogt.
The conversation delved into the logistical challenges faced by event organizers and venue operators in Sacramento, particularly around the permitting process.
One of the central topics was the introduction of limited entertainment permits for smaller venues such as bars and cafes, which could help alleviate some of the bureaucratic hurdles currently faced by operators. Boswell highlighted the difficulty for smaller artists who cannot fill large venues but still need spaces to perform. He expressed optimism that the new permits would create more opportunities for emerging artists to gain exposure and earn income.
“There are not a lot of music venues here in Sacramento. Most of them are of a decent size that doesn’t necessarily lend itself for an up-and-coming artist who may be able to pull 50 or 100 people,” Boswell said. “If you’re a live musician, if you’re not playing, you know that’s a major source of income that you’re not being able to make, and so I think this [limited entertainment permit] will be a great opportunity.”
Jim Cornett also spoke about the challenges posed by rising costs, particularly in relation to fire and police department fees, which have increased post-pandemic. Attendees agreed that while safety is paramount, the high cost of compliance often makes it difficult for organizers to stage profitable events.
Attendees Louisiana Sue and Miguel Castillo, who have hosted events in Sacramento, were especially unhappy with the lack of transparency from safety inspectors sent by Sacramento fire departments.
“This has gotten so complicated and so regulated that we can’t function,” Sue said. “Fire is out of control.”
The call for transparency and predictability in city fees and regulations was a recurring theme throughout the discussion.
The event wrapped up with brief remarks from mayoral candidates Dr. Flo Cofer and Assemblymember Kevin McCarty. Dr. Cofer emphasized the need for inclusive economic development and restoring trust in the city’s leadership, while McCarty focused on removing barriers for small businesses and fostering a “fun city” that prioritizes arts and entertainment.
This story was supported by a grant from James B. McClatchy Foundation.