Nevada County Arts & Culture Launches Cultural District Resilience Fund
$50,000 lead gift launches campaign following end of
State Cultural District funding
July 9, 2026, NEVADA COUNTY, CA—Nevada County Arts & Culture has launched the Cultural District Resilience Fund following the end of State funding for California Cultural Districts on June 30, 2026.
Nevada County is home to two state-designated California Cultural Districts: Grass Valley–Nevada City and Truckee. For the past three years, State funding has helped Nevada County Arts & Culture turn these designations into real local benefit through artist grants, professional development, public art, youth arts, cultural tourism coordination, creative business visibility, and implementation of Culture Forward 2026–2032, Nevada County’s first countywide Arts & Culture Action Plan.
A generous local philanthropist has pledged a $50,000 lead gift to launch the fund. Nevada County Arts & Culture is now asking local and regional donors, businesses, foundations, and community members to help sustain the work during a critical transition.
“State designation alone is not enough,” said Eliza Tudor, Executive Director of Nevada County Arts & Culture. “Cultural Districts need capacity, coordination, partnerships, communications, and sustained public investment. This fund helps keep the work moving for artists, culture bearers, creative businesses, youth, downtowns, and the communities that rely on a strong creative sector.”
In 2025–2026, Nevada County Arts & Culture is administering over $340,000 in grants for artists, culture bearers, and arts organizations, including Cultural District mini-grants and Upstate Individual Artist Fellowship regranting across 19 counties.
In 2025, the organization also promoted 2,000 arts and culture events, over 450 creative business through MUSE, shared 100 paid artist opportunities, supported visibility for over 1,000 artists, served 150 artists and creative workers through the Business of Art Symposium, showcased over 250 artists and culture bearers through Art in Public Spaces and Art at the Airport, and reached 500 students weekly through Artists in Schools.
“This campaign does not replace the need for renewed State investment,” said Jesse Locks, Board President of Nevada County Arts & Culture. “But local support can protect essential infrastructure now. If you care about Nevada County’s artists, creative businesses, downtowns, youth opportunities, and cultural future, this is a moment to step forward.”
To make a gift, visit nevadacountyarts.org/resiliencefund.
For major gifts or sponsorship inquiries, contact:
Eliza Tudor
Executive Director, Nevada County Arts & Culture
office@nevadacountyarts.org
530-264-7031
About Nevada County Arts & Culture
Nevada County Arts & Culture is the State-Local Partner for Nevada County and the County’s designated local arts agency. It administers and supports two state-designated California Cultural Districts: Grass Valley–Nevada City and Truckee, in partnership with the Town of Truckee, the Cities of Grass Valley and Nevada City, Grass Valley Chamber, Nevada City Chamber, Truckee Chamber, and Truckee Tahoe Arts Alliance.
Learn about the Cultural District Resilience Fund at nevadacountyarts.org/resiliencefund
Learn about Culture Forward 2026–2032 at cultureforwardca.org
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