No matter how you define art, Nevada County has it all. With over 100 arts-related organizations, the area hosts more than 1,000 events each year. You’ll find dozens of art galleries and bookstores offering rare editions, including works by local authors like Pulitzer Prize winner Gary Snyder. Plus, there are countless theaters, including the Nevada Theatre, the oldest continuously operating theater on the West Coast, which has hosted everyone from Mark Twain to Mötley Crüe. So, where do you begin? Here are ten ways to dive into the art scene in Nevada County during your visit.
Galleries
Any time of year
Since the 1960s, when authors and artists began settling in Nevada County, the area has blossomed into a vibrant hub of artistic expression. Start your journey at the Center for the Arts’ Granucci Gallery in downtown Grass Valley, which features a rotating selection of works by local, regional, and national artists. Afterward, take a stroll to admire the various murals scattered throughout the city. Finally, dive deeper into the art scene by exploring our list of galleries across Nevada County, showcasing a diverse range of mediums from painting to sculpture.
Art in Public Spaces
Any time of year
Home to two of California’s Cultural Districts, Nevada County is brimming with talented artists. Throughout the year, the Nevada County Arts Council, in collaboration with the county, hosts quarterly exhibits at the Rood Center. The Art in Public Spaces program highlights local talent, allowing artists to showcase the community’s values and encouraging us all to reflect on our assumptions and heighten our awareness of issues such as civic engagement and social justice.
Art at the Airport
Any time of year
Another venue to experience local talent is Truckee’s airport terminal building. The Truckee Cultural District, in partnership with the Nevada County Arts Council, has transformed it into a gallery for everyone to enjoy. Throughout the year, more than four exhibits feature over 100 artists in this beautiful space, providing opportunities to highlight professional local artists, mentor student artists and showcase underrepresented artists.
Wild & Scenic Festival
February
The county hosts one of the nation’s largest environmental and adventure film festivals, which is also the biggest fundraiser for the South Yuba River Citizens League. The Wild and Scenic Film Festival attracts top filmmakers, celebrities, leading activists, social innovators, and renowned adventurers, leaving you inspired to help keep the world “Wild and Scenic.” Throughout the week, you can participate in activist workshops, enjoy music and art exhibits, and engage with youth programs. There are also opportunities to meet filmmakers and special guests at venues across historic Nevada City and Grass Valley, California.
Sierra Poetry Festival
April
What typically begins on World Poetry Day and continues throughout April, the Sierra Poetry Festival’s broader program features local and regional poets of all ages reading, reciting, or singing their poetry at twenty pop-up events throughout the county. Expect the events leading up to the main festival, as well as those afterward, to showcase a full spectrum of styles, from avant-garde collaborations to ekphrastic poetry, alongside the Nevada County Arts’ Spring into Art series.
Sierra Storytelling Festival
June
Every summer, for more than three decades, the little one-room North Columbia Schoolhouse on top of a hill has hosted the “queen of storytelling festivals.” Thousands of attendees, both young and young at heart, make the pilgrimage to the Sierra Storytelling Festival to sit and listen to the nation’s top tellers share a wide range of human experiences through artfully told stories, among the pines overlooking the Tahoe National Forest.
Nevada City Film Festival
June
Each year, the Nevada City Film Festival is recognized as one of the best film festivals in the country by publishers such as USA Today. Over its three days, you’ll find a lineup of award-winning independent and international short and feature-length films. In addition to film screenings, the festival also hosts visiting filmmakers who participate in Q&As, workshops, and talks.
Music in the Park
June
Every summer, Truckee sets the stage for a lively symphony of live music through its Music in the Park series. From mid-June to the end of August, the “Salty” Gebhardt Pavilion in Truckee River Regional Park becomes a canvas for a wide range of musical genres, from bluegrass and country to 80s, 90s, and 00s classics. Whether you grab a seat or spread out on the lawn, it’s the perfect place to unwind and enjoy the music as the sun sets around you.
Open Studios Tour
October
If you love art, expression, or want to experience the local community, the Open Studios Tour is a must. Every year, over multiple weekends in October, 70+ local artists open their doors in 47 studios. You can meet the artists, learn about their creative processes, watch live demonstrations, and much more. Beyond being an art sale, Open Studios offers a rare chance to experience firsthand how, where, and why art is created. Start your tour at the Center for the Arts to pick up your guide and visit as many locations as you like.
