Invest in Our Creative Future
Cultural District Resilience Fund for Nevada County
What your gift will help sustain
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What is our California Cultural Districts Resilience Fund?
Nevada County is home to two state-designated California Cultural Districts: Grass Valley-Nevada City Cultural District and Truckee Cultural District.
For the past three years, one-time State funding has helped Nevada County Arts & Culture turn these unique designations into real local benefit: Services for artists, visibility for creative businesses, support for venues and cultural organizations, cultural tourism coordination, downtown partnerships, community convenings, and practical infrastructure for our creative economy—including the county’s first arts and culture action plan, Culture Forward 2026-2032.
That State funding ended on June 30, 2026.
Despite strong statewide advocacy, California’s 2026–27 budget does not include renewed funding for the California Cultural Districts program. This leaves rural California Cultural Districts like ours facing immediate repercussions at the very moment our communities are asking arts and culture to do more: strengthen downtown vitality, support tourism, create opportunities for artists and young people, build belonging, and contribute to economic resilience.
Designation alone is not enough. Cultural Districts need capacity, coordination, and sustained investment.
A $50,000 lead gift has launched this campaign
A local philanthropist has pledged a generous $50,000 lead gift to help launch the Nevada County Cultural Districts Bridge Fund.
We are now asking local and regional donors, businesses, foundations, and community members to help us build on this gift and sustain the work of Nevada County’s two Cultural Districts during this critical transition.
This campaign is not a substitute for State responsibility. Nevada County Arts & Culture will continue to advocate for renewed public investment in California Cultural Districts. But local philanthropy can help protect essential capacity now, while we work toward a more sustainable future.
What your gift will help sustain
Your contribution will help Nevada County Arts & Culture continue core Cultural District services, including:
Artist services, visibility, and professional development
Support for creative businesses, venues, and cultural organizations
Coordination with chambers, downtown partners, tourism partners, cities, and the County
Communications platforms that connect residents and visitors to local arts and culture
Cultural tourism and creative economy development
Convenings that bring artists, civic leaders, businesses, and community partners together
Continued implementation of Grass Valley-Nevada City and Truckee Cultural District priorities
Without funding, the whole community will begin to feel the effects: fewer services for artists, reduced cultural tourism coordination, diminished visibility for creative businesses, and weakened capacity in the partnerships that help make our Cultural Districts meaningful.
Why this matters
Nevada County’s arts and culture sector is not ornamental. It is part of our local infrastructure.
It supports small businesses, activates historic downtowns, strengthens tourism, creates pathways for young people, helps retain creative workers, and contributes to the distinctive character of the places we call home.
Our Cultural Districts belong to the whole community. They connect artists, venues, local businesses, civic partners, cultural heritage organizations, residents, and visitors in the shared work of sustaining a vibrant creative economy.
What your gift will help sustain
Your contribution will help Nevada County Arts & Culture continue core Cultural District services, including:
Artist services, visibility, and professional development
Support for creative businesses, venues, and cultural organizations
Coordination with chambers, downtown partners, tourism partners, cities, and the County
Communications platforms that connect residents and visitors to local arts and culture
Cultural tourism and creative economy development
Convenings that bring artists, civic leaders, businesses, and community partners together
Continued implementation of Grass Valley-Nevada City and Truckee Cultural District priorities
Without funding, the whole community will begin to feel the effects: fewer services for artists, reduced cultural tourism coordination, diminished visibility for creative businesses, and weakened capacity in the partnerships that help make our Cultural Districts meaningful.
Bass Dojo instructor, Pancho Tomaselli, brings weekly music lessons to Nevada County’s most vulnerable youth. Photo: Casey Garrotto
“The arts in Nevada County are not a luxury—they are central to how we learn, connect, and understand one another. Every day, we work to ensure that artists, students, and organizations have the resources they need to create, to connect, and to thrive. This work is both a privilege and a responsibility, and it’s only possible through your generosity.”
Artists in Schools instructor, Lani H Zila with students. We bring over 10,000 art lessons into Nevada County schools annually. Photo: Casey Garrotto
Student with artwork at the 2025 Art at the Airport s.t.e.A.m. exhibition. We coordinate 5 Truckee schools annually to bring student work into the Truckee Tahoe Airport. Photo: Rob Retting
Nevada County Arts Council youth artist intern, Alexis, with Nevada County Poet Laureate, Karen Terrey, during a coaching session. Photo: Casey Garrotto
Nevada County Arts Council is a 501c3 not-for-profit organization and your contributions are tax-deductible. For your records, our EIN is 27-0314493.