Nevada County Arts: Where art grows

NEVADA COUNTY HAS MORE artists per capita than any other county in California. Hundreds of visual artists, musicians, dancers, actors, filmmakers, writers and poets all call Nevada County home.

Each year the county hosts an eclectic mix of art, film and musical events, with support from more than 130 arts groups.

With its growing arts offerings, the county is becoming a major arts tourism destination in the region. To see a calendar listing of events—along with a new artist’s registry— go to NevadaCountyArts.org.

“Collaboration is at the core of our mission, vision and values,” says Jon Blinder, president of the group. Nevada County Arts, originally known as the Arts Collaborative of Nevada County, was formed more than two years ago to represent and advocate for the artists in the county. It is an arts liaison to local government, chambers of commerce and other regional groups.

Nevada County Arts also works to secure funding for projects that benefit artists. And it is a partner with the California Arts Council.

This fall, the group changed its name to Nevada County Arts. Artists submitted their visions, and Nevada City designer Kathy Dotson’s logo was selected.

“We felt it was a compelling image conveying a strong sense of place and reinforced the idea that ‘Nevada County is where art grows,'” says Blinder.

Aspen Grove by LeeAnn Brook