Recap: Regional Arts Commission Town Hall Meeting – Connect, Support, and Engage

Regional Arts Commission Town Hall: Connecting St. Louis’ Arts Community

The Regional Arts Commission (RAC) Town Hall, held on March 19, 2026, was a pivotal event for St. Louis’ vibrant arts community. This gathering aimed to connect local artists, discuss funding opportunities, and advocate for the arts’ vital role in the city’s cultural fabric. The event emphasized the importance of community engagement and the need to protect and support the arts in St. Louis.

• Connecting the Arts Community
  The RAC Town Hall provided a platform for artists, officials, and community members to collaborate and share ideas. Attendees were encouraged to spread awareness about the event and its goals.
• Advocating for Arts Funding
  Participants were urged to contact local officials to ensure continued support and independence for the RAC. Advocacy efforts focused on maintaining robust funding for the arts.
• Engaging Through Social Media
  The RAC encouraged attendees to share their arts experiences on social media using dedicated support badges, amplifying the visibility of St. Louis’ arts scene.

The arts are the heartbeat of St. Louis, and the RAC Town Hall highlighted the collective effort needed to sustain this vibrant community. By connecting, supporting, and engaging, we can ensure a thriving future for the arts in St. Louis.

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Dear Friends of the Arts, 

For those who were able, thank you for joining us for today’s Town Hall. 

Your presence, your questions, and your support matter deeply—not just to RAC, but to the entire arts community across St. Louis. This moment is about more than one organization—it’s about protecting what makes St. Louis vibrant, connected, and alive. 

As we move forward together, there are a few simple but powerful ways you can help: 

Share the information 

Please share relevant excerpts or the full Town Hall recording with your friends, family, and colleagues so they can stay informed and understand what’s at stake. 

Share link: https://youtu.be/hxDfX1kAFH8?si=U3GlQiJfFkDRd02y

Speak up 

Contact your state and local elected officials and tell them to keep RAC independent and fully funded. Your voice matters—and they need to hear it! 

Show your love for the arts 

Throughout the year, share photos of yourself at your favorite arts experiences—performances, exhibitions, festivals, classes—and use the support badge in your posts. Let’s make the impact of the arts visible across all social media platforms. We’ve included examples below.

Download RAC Badges

*Dropbox will ask you to login or signup, you can click “Or continue with download only” at the bottom to bypass it.

At the end of the day, this is about all of us. 

The arts are the heartbeat of our St. Louis culture. Let’s protect the HeART—together. 

With gratitude,

Tino Ochoa, Commission Chair

Vanessa Cooksey, President & CEO 

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