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Featuring the events, stories, and people of our community ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
Welcome to Culture ConnectionGrass Valley-Nevada City Cultural District's newsletter,
featuring the events, stories, and people of our community
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Have you been to the Rood Center recently? It’s the final week for the current exhibtion Culture in Focus | Celebrating our Cultural Districts with The Nevada County Camera Club, on display through August 26. If you haven't had a chance to check out these wonderful photos that celebrate Nevada County, east and west, now's the time! You're bound to recognize some of your favorite places and a few familiar faces too.
If you have seen it, please take this short survey and let us know about your experience through the Art in Public Spaces program, as a partnership with the County of Nevada. |
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Calling all artists, culture bearers and creative entrepreneurs! Join us Saturday, September 27, 8:30am - 4:00pm at Sierra College, Grass Valley. This day long symposium is designed to elevate your creative career, whether you’re a seasoned professional or just getting started. Students free with ID, scholarships available. |
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Art in Public Spaces - Opening ReceptionJoin us in celebrating Creative Capital: Cultivating Community with ASiF and the many artists showcased as part of this dynamic exhibition taking a closer look at the impact of creative hubs in our Cultural Districts. Friday, September 19, 4:30pm at the Eric Rood Center, Nevada City. Learn More |
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4th Annual Latino Family FestivalThis festival brings together community resources for families, great music, and good food in a beautiful park! Thursday, September 18, 6:00pm at Condon Park, Grass Valley. Learn More |
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Cultural District Partner Events
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Save the date for the annual Magical Evening on Mill - a celebration of the Mill Street Plaza and the Grass Valley community. Sunday, September 7, 6:00pm Tickets on sale now! |
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Allow the twinkling stars to bear witness to your evening of romance and delight as you indulge in al fresco dining and dance beneath a celestial canopy.
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Submit Your MUSE 2026
Artist Directory ProfileAre you an artist, arts organization or arts collaborative that contributes to our community and creative economy? We’re updating the directory and want to hear from you! Space is limited. Submit your free profile to be featured in MUSE 2026. |
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We distribute 10,000 free print copies of MUSE along the I-80 and Hwy 20 corridors and across the Sierra Nevada Foothills and Truckee-Tahoe region. Space is limited—submit your contract before August 28th to claim the Earlybird Discount! |
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Artists’ Spotlight - Claire Ray
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GVNC: What is your medium? Ray: For many years I worked mostly in oils and watercolor, but recently I have added acrylic, pastels and wood with glass to the mediums I work in.
GVNC: At what point in your life did you realize your calling? Ray: I grew up wanting to be an artist. At my third grade graduation we were asked to dress up as what we wanted to be when we grew up and I chose to be an artist with a beret and everything. Still I did not study art formally. Somewhere along the path I told myself I had to choose something more pragmatic, that it was naive that I could end up doing something I love for work. It wasn’t until after college that I embraced it as a career and was able to fully feel like I could pursue art as a profession. That was thirteen years ago.
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GVNC: Tell us about your creative process. Ray: It has changed over the years and varies from piece to piece, but I usually draw initial inspiration from my life and the world around me. From there sometimes I sketch, but more often I store the images in my mind and tweak them mentally. I always work on multiple paintings at a time, so I can keep a creative flow going without having to stop for technical reasons, like a layer drying. It also helps in moments of frustration, since I can take a break from a piece and still have paintings to work on, then come back with fresh perspective.
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GVNC: What inspires you? Ray: I think my biggest inspiration truly is the land around us and the sky above us. It is my most constant and soulful inspiration, one that I can’t imagine getting tired of.
GVNC: What are you most proud of? Ray: I am a mother so first and foremost my children.
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GVNC: What do you love the best about our creative community? Ray: The range of creativity and diverse media. From visionary painters to potters, film, music, to bladesmithing; the skill in this community covers many categories.
GVNC: Name two Nevada County artists that you admire and why. Ray: I have admired Sarah Colemans work for many years. Her paintings are undoubtably captivating but I also admire her pursuits within the community, making our county more stunning with every mural she works on. Jori Phillips is a new artist to me. I saw their work at the Center for the Arts and was blown away. It is not like anything I have seen and the imagination as well as patience to create what they do makes every piece you look at that much more exhilarating and fresh.
GVNC: What’s coming up for you? Ray: My current exhibition Beneath Summer Skies is on display at the Nevada City Winery Gallery until mid September. That was a big push which completed many of the paintings I was working on, so when the kids start back up school and I jump back into the studio I will be focusing on my wood sculptures with glass. They will be a central part of my preparation for the Open Studios Tour in October. I am looking forward to showcasing those new sculptures along side a range of my paintings from the past year.
GVNC: Where can people connect with you and your art? Ray: Folks can email me can contact me through my website clairerayart.com, or follow me on Facebook and Instagram @clairerayart
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First Improv Show!Saturday, August 16, 6:30pmWild Eye Pub
535 Mill Street, Grass ValleyDon't miss this hilarious, memorable, and historic DEBUT SHOW of the new, local Laughter Shock Improv! What is Laughter Shock Improv? This multigenerational troupe cuts the jokes and sillies from all sides. See them perform, fly and even flop for your viewing enjoyment. Read more… |
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Kurosawa FestSunday, August 17, 7:00pmThe Onyx Downtown
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The Nevada Theatre
401 Broad Street,
Nevada CityPay tribute to legendary director Akira Kurosawa with new restorations of some of his most celebrated epics! IKIRU shows the director at his most compassionate—a multifaceted look at what it means to be alive. In Japanese w/ English subtitles. Learn More |
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Kolsch NightThursday, August 21, 6:30pmBrewHaus
300 Spring Street,
Nevada CityMore than just a beer event—it’s a whole vibe! It’s a unique and festive experience inspired by traditional German beer halls. Learn More |
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Taking a
Deep DipSunday, Agust 31, 10:00amThe North Columbia Schoolhouse
17894 Tyler Foote Road, Nevada CityJoin author, Kate Marianchild for a speech and discussion in presentation of North America’s only aquatic songbirds. Learn More |
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Spring Street Swing Out3rd Tuesdays,
beginning August 196:00pm Intro Lesson | 7:00pm Social DanceOdd Fellows Hall
212 Spring Street,
Nevada CityJoin the Nevada County Swings community and get your dance on! Learn More |
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Banner Mountain Blues BandSaturday, August 23, 6:00pmLucchesi Vineyard
19698 View Forever Way, Grass ValleyBring your favorite picnic bites, kick off your shoes, and dance in the grass with a glass of their signature wine. It’s the perfect way to toast the end of summer. Read more… |
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Picnic Pops ConcertSunday, August 24, 5:00pmPioneer Park
425 Nimrod Street,
Nevada CityUnder the direction of Cheryl Woldseth, the 60-member Nevada County Concert Band invites you to join in the celebration of Summer. Expect a lively program, including toe-tapping marches, iconic Broadway hits, contemporary tunes, and much more. The concert is free, open to the public, and accessible to all. Learn More |
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West African Drum and Dance Tuesdays through
August 26
4:00pm Drum | 5:00 DanceThe Miners Foundry
325 Spring Street,
Nevada CityThese joyful, multigenerational classes center on rhythm, connection, and culture. Led by Seydou Dante, a griot from Mali—all levels welcome. Drums available or bring your own. Check out the full schedule… |
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Free CreaturesFriday, August 29, 9:30pmCrazy Horse Saloon
230 Commercial Street, Nevada CityFree Creatures presents as a powerfully welcoming invitation into an exploration of genre, feeling, and thought. A sense of loving playfulness is their main directive; an intention felt immediately by every audience member. Read more… |
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Nevada County Arts Council is excited to once again partner with Wild & Scenic for this year’s exhibition! Submissions Due:
Sunday, November 30 |
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Submissions Due:
The 15th of each month by 1:59am pt |
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Submissions Due:
Monday, September 15 |
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Applications Due:
Saturday, October 18 |
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Applications Due:
Sunday, October 5 |
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Pumpkin Painting Workshops: Saturday, September 13, 2:30-5:30pm and Wednesday September 18, 5:30-8:00pm. |
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Interested in learning more about the goings on in our sister cultural district? Sign up to receive the Truckee Turntable.
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Copyright © 2025 Grass Valley-Nevada City Cultural District, All rights reserved.
You've received this email because you are interested in the arts, culture and people of Grass Valley-Nevada City Cultural District. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Our mailing address is: Grass Valley-Nevada City Cultural District
PO Box 1833
Nevada City, CA 95959-1833
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