Following an extensive search by the City of Sacramento, Jason Jong has been hired as its new Cultural & Creative Economy Manager. He will start his new position on July 17.
Jong will oversee the Office of Arts & Culture — a division of the Department of Convention and Cultural Services — which serves as the City’s chief point of interface with the creative community.
The Office of Arts & Culture is responsible for creative economy grantmaking and educational programming as well as the City’s Art in Public Places program and the Sacramento Film + Media Office.
Jong’s responsibilities will include continued implementation and ongoing evaluation of the Creative Edge plan, Sacramento’s plan for arts, culture and the creative economy as well as the City’s ongoing investment of American Rescue Plan Act recovery dollars in the creative economy.
“I am grateful for this opportunity to serve my hometown in this capacity, and to amplify existing efforts of the Office of Arts & Culture in centering diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, and belonging in our work,” Jong said. “I look forward to co-creating a future that expands on the value and impact of artistic expression, cultural reclamation, and creative generation in advancing the civic well-being of all residents, as well as visitors to our great city.”
Jong’s extensive work experience includes seven years with the California Arts Council where he provided oversight and executed programs and initiatives for vulnerable populations and managed funding opportunities including those for county, statewide and regional arts organizations, and nonprofits.
He also worked for the City of Oakland for 12 years within the Cultural Arts & Marketing Division and Department of Human Services.
Born and raised in Sacramento, Jong founded the Sacramento Asian Pacific Cultural Village, presenters of Asian Pacific CultureFest and the Sacramento Asian Pacific Film Festival.
For nearly 30 years, he has served as a board member, staff and advisor to several public and nonprofit organizations in Sacramento and the Bay Area and was recently named one of 25 AAPI Change Makers by the Sacramento Bee.
“Jason’s long history of work in the performing arts community in Sacramento and extensive experience in the public sector at both state and local levels make him an ideal candidate for this role,” said Director of Convention and Cultural Services Megan Van Voorhis. “I’m delighted about the opportunity to partner with Jason as we continue to work toward a vibrant and just creative economy in Sacramento.”