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Celebrating the people, places and stories of the Cultural District ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
Welcome to Culture ConnectionGrass Valley-Nevada City Cultural District's bimonthly newsletter,
featuring the events, stories, and people of our community
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October Creatives MeetupThursday, October 16, 5:007:00pmJoin us TODAY for the Nevada County Arts Council’s monthly Creatives Meetup at The Louvre Gallery in Grass Valley. The Louvre Gallery has been family owned and operated for 45 years, providing custom framing, restoration and appraisal services. The space also serves as a fine art gallery, and has recently begun offering art classes. Creatives Meetups are for everyone! Make connections, find inspiration, and discover new ways to get involved with the creative community.
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The Business of Art—Recap!
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Photos of the 2025 Business of Art Symposium by Casey Garrotto |
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The Business of Art Symposium2025 at Sierra College in Grass Valley, is a wrap! We’re filled with gratitude for everyone who attended, and the inspiring presenters and panelists who shared their wisdom with us. From California Arts Council Executive Director, Danielle Brazell’s keynote; to California for the Arts CEO, Julie Baker’s resonant insights into the funding landscape ahead; to our closing session with DJ Brandon “GR8” Greathouse. The day was all about connection, community and a commitment to supporting the arts and artists of Northern California. Thanks again to all of our presenters, the Sierra College staff, and to the many artists and creative entrepreneurs in attendance. Now, don’t forget to take our survey!
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The Artist Accelerator:
A Career Intensive
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Nevada County Arts Council, in partnership with Rhizomatic Arts presents: The Business of Art—The Artist Accelerator: A Career Intensive If you’re an artist, you already have a business. The Artist Accelerator helps you build the skills, structures, and confidence to run it with purpose and sustainability. This 8-week hybrid program blends practical tools with peer connection so you can strengthen the business side of your creative practice without losing sight of your artistic core. Learn more and register your interest!
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Congratulations Grantees!
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Follow along as we share these wonderful artists and arts organizations projects over the course of the year! You can learn more about the selection process by visiting nevadacountyarts.org/gvnc-cultural-district-minigrants.
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Cultural District Partner Events
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Chamber
Ribbon Cutting
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Sierra Custom InkThursday, October 16
5:30 - 6:00pm12506 Loma Rica Drive,
Grass ValleyScreen Print • Embroidery
Graphic Design |
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Public Salmon ExpeditionsSunday, November 2 & Saturday, November 8Looking for a fall adventure the whole family will love? Join SYRCL for their Public Salmon Expeditions and experience the magic of the Yuba River up close! Led by SYRCL’s Education Director, Monique Streit, and professional river guides, come float down the river, see Chinook salmon spawning, and learn about the Yuba’s incredible ecosystem. 🎟️ Spots are limited — sign up now at YubaRiver.org! |
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Nevada City Spooktacular
Trick-or-TreatFriday, October 31Rood Government Center (3:00 - 5:00pm)
& Downtown Business DistrictGhouls and ghosts of all ages are invited to roam our town and haunted halls, go on a Spooktacular Scavenger Hunt, and gather tasty treats. Merchants will open their doors to trick-or-treaters with free Nevada County Connects shuttles between the Eric Rood Center and City Hall every 15 minutes until 7:00pm. |
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Howl-O-Ween
Dog MobParade and Costume Contest Sunday, October 26,
3:00 - 4:30pmDowntown Grass Valley11th Annual Howl-O-Ween Dog Mob Parade, presented by PAWS’itive Pals Dog Training and the City of Grass Valley. Meet at El Barrio Market at 2:30pm to walk in the parade. Sign up to volunteer or for the Costume Contest! Learn More |
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Rumpelstilzchen’s Fairy GoldA Fairy Tale Puppet Opera Thursday-Saturday, October 23-25, 7:00pm
Sunday, October 26, 2:00pmNevada Theatre
401 Broad Street,
Nevada CityWith the help of two wise cracking bookworms, a mysterious witch in the woods and a larger-than-life operatic singing book, Rumpelstilzchen sets off on a quest to become a story spinner, save the world and answer the question: “If stories come from the world of imagination, what would happen if there weren’t any stories left?” All ages will enjoy this musical stage spectacle! Get Tickets Read our Artist Spotlight with the creator Dalrymple MacAlpin - below! |
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The Rocky Horror Picture Show
50th Anniversary!Friday, October 17, 7:30pm
Saturday, October 18,
7:30 & 11:00pm
Sunday, October 19, 7:00pmNevada Theatre
401 Broad Street,
Nevada CityThe Onyx Downtown at the Nevada Theatre and Nevada City LIVE! present this cult classic film complete with a live all-star shadow cast performing live on stage! Get Tickets |
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Family Fun DaySaturday, October 25, 10:00am - 2:00pmThe Center for the Arts
314 W Main Street,
Grass ValleyFeaturing Giant Puppets Save the World! Arts & Crafts, Face Painting, Balloons & more! RSVP |
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WinterfaireArtisan & Craft Show Saturday, October 25, 9:00am - 4:00pm
Sunday, October 26,
9:00am - 3:00pmNevada County Fairgrounds
11228 McCourtney Road, Grass ValleyA wonderful day of community—support local artists, enjoy the Elks’ tasty fundraiser treats, and find amazing handmade treasures just in time for the holidays! Learn More |
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Beetlejuice Jr
The MusicalFriday-Sunday, October
17-19 & 24-25, 7:00pmElks Lodge
109 School Street,
Grass ValleyThe ghost-with-the-most comes to the stage in Beetlejuice JR., the frightfully funny musical based on the beloved motion picture turned Broadway phenomenon. Get Tickets |
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Halloween Masquerade BallFriday, October 24, 5:30pmThe Center for the Arts
314 W Main Street,
Grass ValleyMusic in the Mountains' Fall Fundraising Gala - Live Auction, Entertainment and Dinner catered by Antonio's Catering. Get Tickets |
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Disco Inferno Halloween BallSaturday, October 25,
8:00 - 11:30pmMiners Foundry
325 Spring Street,
Nevada CitySingers Lorraine Gervais, Chris & Jon Kelly and Angie Villwock will be gettin’ down with their glittery disco selves backed by the Super Fly Orchestra is: Bob Villwock, Ray Sayre, Gary Regina, Matt Langley, Tim Bulkley and Charlie Faber. Get Tickets |
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The Polish AmbassadorFriday, October 31, 7:00pmMiners Foundry,
325 Spring Street,
Nevada CityA mystery man of many hats, The Polish Ambassador rocks more than just a trademark jumpsuit, authoring sublime, intentional artistic works, animated safaris in technicolor sound. Get Tickets |
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Book Release Party & Poetry Slam/JamMonday, October 20, 6:30pmElixart
203 York Street,
Nevada CityCelebrating local poet Oliah Fall’s recently published book of poems, "Beyond the Tree of Dreams." Featuring local poets Will Staple, Andrew Philips-Hayes and Quantum. RSVP |
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San Juan Ridge Tapestries and A Radical ThreadSunday, October 26,
5:00 - 9:00pmNorth Columbia Schoolhouse Cultural Center
17894 Tyler Foote Road,
Nevada CityViewing of the San Juan Ridge Tapestries at 5:00pm and the film A Radical Thread at 7:00pm. All proceeds go to the North Columbia Schoolhouse. Tickets available at the door. Learn More |
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Torchlight ToursOctober 24, 28 & 30
6:30 - 8:30pmGrass Valley Museum
410 South Church Street,
Grass ValleyExperience the historic grounds of the former Mount St. Mary's orphanage and convent by flashlight. Not a haunted house - this is a different experience than regular free tours where you will see parts of the building and grounds that are not normally on display. Refreshments and other surprises are included! Learn More |
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30th Annual Open StudiosPreview Exhibition on Display through October 19th Open Studios
Second Weekend
Saturday, October 18 and Sunday, October 19 |
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The Altar ShowOpening Reception
Thursday, October 23,
5:00 - 7:00pmThe Granucci Gallery
314 W Main Street,
Grass Valley“The Altar Show: Renewal & Remembrance is a community-based non-profit organization that provides a free annual exhibition originally inspired by Day of The Dead that involves and educates the community while providing a safe place to renew and remember in a respectful and safe space.” Learn More |
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A Visual Journey Through Nevada CountyGroup Exhibition On display through OctoberSeven Stars Gallery
210 Spring Street,
Nevada CitySix artists present their views of Nevada County through paintings and photography. The Gallery is open Thursday through Sunday from 11:00am to 5:00pm. |
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Art in Public SpacesCreative Capital | Cultivating Community with ASiFOn display through
February 17Eric Rood Center
950 Maidu Ave, Nevada CityLearn More |
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Auditions: Saturday, October 25, 4:00 - 7:00pm and Sunday, October 26, 1:00 - 4:00pm |
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Submissions Due: Saturday, November 1 |
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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: Friday, December 5, 5:00pm pst |
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Artist Spotlight - Dalrymple MacAlpin
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GVNC: What is your medium? MacAlpin: The artistic medium of song writing and music composition is first and foremost. Harp, piano, guitar and singing being the four main instruments of choice. Next comes the writing of the stories and the plays. The music becomes married to these narrative ideas and suddenly there needs to be characters to inhabit the imagined worlds and so we enter into the art of puppetry. The wooden marionette in particular holds utter fascination. This type of puppet is closest to being an instrument for each string pulls you in a different direction and when you pluck multiple strings you create a harmony of movement for the character. Like any artform there are infinite variations.
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GVNC: At what point in your life did you realize your calling? MacAlpin: The calling happened when as a child, in moments of quiet solitude seeing life breathe. This is the best way to describe it. An unmistakable undulating quivering ripple in the air. There were several times of experiencing what can only be described as SEEING THINGS. Strange little folk running up and down the bedroom walls. A dead leaf half buried in the snow with a forlorn face asking to be brought indoors. It makes you realize at a very young age there is far more to this world than meets the eye. Children are not really told what is possible and what is not and so if you see something strange you don’t immediately freak out, you sit with it and try to understand what it means. Looking back now I can say these were definitely life changing and life shaping moments.
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GVNC: Tell us about your creative process MacAlpin: LISTENING. When you are alone and silence is your friend, reach out with your senses and transcend. For the spirits they have stories which they long to tell, a welcome treasure is the gold of their whispered spells. Only listen. Intuition plays a leading role in the process of creativity. There must be a sense of playful extemporaneous wonderment. Sometimes this is akin to automatic writing where the pen moves at a frantic pace and you are unaware of what you are writing until you stop and read it. Here you suddenly notice you are the puppet, being pulled along by invisible imagination strings; a receiver of dreams and visions from another time and place. When you get it right there is a feeling of being reconnected to a wellspring that is our birthright. Of striking a vein of gold in the mountain of the mind.
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GVNC: What inspires you? MacAlpin: The thunder, the clouds, the trees, the plants, the dusk, the dawn. The in-between times. The old and often forgotten myths and fairy tales and the characters which emerge out of the pages. The elements to be certain, such as when you hear voices blowing through on the winds of memory. Water is also a very inspiring conduit. Just sitting alone in the bathtub, in the dark and out of nowhere something arrives already fully formed. There is no mistaking the power of water when this happens. The creative process itself is very inspiring. When in the act of collaborating with other artists of various disciplines in order to bring something to life, there is electricity in the air as during a thunderstorm and this is something you can tell everyone is feeling. It is a kind of contagious inspiration. Then there are the moments during a live performance when you look out at the audience and see faces lit up with smiles of fascination, eyes twinkling, a palpable sense of reverie is afoot. What could be more inspiring?!
GVNC: What are you most proud of? MacAlpin: Of holding onto the inner child’s sense of curiosity. This has been the guiding star of a life dedicated to exploring the otherworld, the faerie world, the isle of apples, the glimmer of a half hidden beckoning hand pulling us through the misty veil. If there is anything to be proud of it is this: Of continually trusting in the tingling senses we are all born with instead of allowing them to get muddied up by the rules and expectations of adult society.
GVNC: What do you love best about our creative community? MacAlpin: The people! Such incredibly diverse individuals here, an embarrassment of riches in terms of talent and creative daring. The gold is still here and certain folks you meet have its gleam in their eyes. The support! Who could ask for a better community where the most outrageous ideas are embraced, encouraged and nurtured into their sparkling existence. Everyone who lives here knows the truth of these words. We are all us quite lucky to have found such a vibrant patch of earth.
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GVNC: Name two Nevada County Artists you admire and why MacAlpin: Angela Holm possesses a highly creative mind, a captivating intelligence and an artistic philosophy which imbues her work an exceptional quality. In her camera-less photography you are witness to colors and shapes which feel pulled out of the future and past simultaneously. Angela’s art has the presence of being made as if it were a gift passing through her fingers, her secret offering to the natural world and its oftentimes invisible inhabitants. There is a serenity, beauty and grace in everything she creates. In her own words: “Joyfully accepting the aura of the unexpected that can happen through optical mechanics, she explores the interplay of light on the natural elements, especially liquids and botanical subjects.” Teresa Shea. Teresa is a fearless artist of many mediums and disciplines. She brings magic to life in an instant and after you’re done blinking there will appear before you something to make your eyes widen all the more with wonder. Teresa holds no notion of the impossible and when confronted with an artistic dilemma she seems to relish the creative challenge with stalwart glee. She and her ingenious partner Mark Mixon make up a formidable creative duo and Nevada County is fortunate to have them.
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GVNC: What’s coming up for you? MacAlpin: There is only one answer possible here. Rumpelstilzchen’s Fairy Gold. A fairy tale puppet opera 15 years in the making which shall debut October 23rd-26th at The Nevada Theatre. This is an original backstory of the famous Brother’s Grimm Fairy tale, Rumpelstilzchen. For the first time ever Rumpel gets to be the hero and tell his side of the story. This is the culmination of a life’s work and marks the beginning of a new chapter. It encompasses a feeling of righting a great wrong. How could Rumpel possibly be the bad guy when the King is literally reeking with greed and malice? The music is at the heart of the production and features an original score for harp, piano, cello, vibraphone, saxophone and various vocalists.
GVNC: Where can we learn more about you? MacAlpin: You can visit my website dalrymplemacalpin.com and find me on Instagram @dalrymple_macalpin or Facebook. You can also listen to my work on Spotify.
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Our mailing address is: Grass Valley-Nevada City Cultural District
PO Box 1833
Nevada City, CA 95959-1833
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