Advocacy, Art, and Community: Inside Creative West’s 2026 Arts Policy Exchange

In May 2026, sixty cultural leaders, advocates, and decision-makers from across the West came together in Ketchum, Idaho, for the Creative West Arts Policy Exchange. With Sun Valley’s mountains as our backdrop, what began as a policy convening quickly became something richer: a gathering where we built trust, honored our shared history, and dreamed together about the future of arts advocacy in our region.

From breakthrough conversations to heartfelt goodbyes (and a memorable karaoke night), here’s a look at what made this exchange meaningful, and what it signals for the road ahead.

A Convening that Landed

The numbers tell a clear story, so let’s start there: 

• 93.3% of post-convening survey respondents rated their overall participant satisfaction 4 out of 5, with 60% of respondents giving it a perfect score. 
• 80% of respondents awarded on-site signage and wayfinding a perfect score, making navigation around multiple venues uncomplicated and effortless.
• Over 53% of attendees praised the centralized travel booking process for eliminating out-of-pocket expenses and easing stress.

These responses speak to the care, hospitality, and intention that shaped every detail. Behind the scenes, our eight-person Creative West team worked shoulder to shoulder, weaving together logistics across a rural mountain landscape. Together, we showed that ambitious, values-driven work can thrive, even when the setting asks us to be creative and resourceful.

When leaders can focus on the work instead of the logistics, better conversations have room to happen.

Meaningful Dialogue Across the Network

Some of the most meaningful moments unfolded in our working sessions, where leaders from every corner of the region gathered for honest dialogue about the questions shaping arts and culture right now.

Facilitated by Mary Margaret Schoenfeld, these sessions created space for candid conversation, active listening, and shared reflection across the network.

People shared that these sessions gave them space to speak openly, listen deeply, and discover common ground. We exchanged perspectives, acknowledged concerns, and left with a renewed sense of shared purpose and stronger connections with one another.

Reflective exchange sits at the heart of why we gather. The Arts Policy Exchange reminded us that when we make space to truly listen and engage, insight and possibility naturally follow.

Practical Tools for Advocates on the Ground

In the Western Arts Advocacy Network (WAAN) track, the energy was hands-on and practical from the start.

We dove into peer-led roundtables on funding and program strategy, sharing what works and what doesn’t. One highlight: advocacy toolkits packed with blueprints for hosting local ‘Lawmaker Nights’—practical resources to help us build real relationships with legislators.

For those running solo or small teams, leaving with tools they can use right away is invaluable. It’s the difference between feeling inspired and feeling ready to take action.

We also learned an honest lesson: many advocacy leaders are doing this work on their own, and a packed schedule can leave them running on empty. This feedback will shape how we pace future exchanges. Rest is an essential part of the return on investment, and we’re carrying that insight forward.

Honoring the Leaders Who Helped Build This Work

Not every meaningful moment happened around a policy table. Some of the most powerful ones came when we paused to celebrate each other.

The retirement tribute for Executive Directors Vicki Bourns (Utah) and Karen Hanan (Washington) stood out as a major emotional highlight. Both leaders devoted years to advancing arts and culture in their states, and the recognition ceremony gave the network a chance to honor that legacy together.

Moments like these remind us that policy work is, at its core, about people. The relationships, mentorship, and memory these leaders carried forward have shaped our region in ways that matter.

Looking Ahead: Insight to Action

We left Ketchum with a sense of shared momentum and a real appetite for what’s next. Throughout the exchange, our conversations pointed toward new opportunities, and our network is energized to turn that focus into bold, forward-looking work.

Emerging themes for future exchanges include:

• AI integration and ethics: How state agencies can navigate AI in grant-making, copyright, and operations.
• Regional asset-sharing: Building frameworks to trade data systems, marketing tools, and expertise across state lines.
• Succession planning: Preparing for a wave of leadership transitions without losing institutional memory or political capital.

There’s also excitement for rapid-fire ‘success and failure story’ sessions—formats that re-energize the room and put real-world learning at the center.

What the 2026 Arts Policy Exchange Taught Us

If you remember just one thing from this recap, let it be this: meaningful advocacy grows from trust, and trust grows when we gather with intention and put people at the center.

Here’s a quick snapshot of what made this year’s exchange work:

• Lead with hospitality. Removing barriers lets people focus on the work that matters.
• Equip advocates with practical tools. Inspiration matters, but usable resources create lasting impact.
• Honor the people. Celebration and connection are not extras. They’re the foundation.
• Build community. The strongest networks are rooted in genuine relationships and shared purpose.
• Look forward. The most energized networks move from maintaining the status quo to pursuing bold possibilities.

Where We Go from Here

The 2026 Creative West Arts Policy Exchange showed what’s possible when we commit to showing up for each other. We left with practical tools, celebrated the leaders who shaped our work, and set a bold course for the future of arts policy in the West. That momentum is ours to carry forward.

To everyone who made the Arts Policy Exchange possible, thank you. And if you’re following this work from afar, stay connected—subscribe to our Regional News Digest newsletter for updates every other month and keep up with the latest on arts policy, advocacy, and the conversations shaping culture across our region. The next chapter is just beginning, and there’s a place for you in it!