The Center for the Arts: Helping to create our “arts economy”

CREATIVE INDUSTRIES, INCLUDING performing arts venues, have helped diversify our regional economy. The timing has been beneficial because the recession clobbered traditional industries.

Nowhere is the trend more visible than at The Center of the Arts in Grass Valley. The Center—ironically home to a car dealership in the ‘80s—has become an “economic engine” for Nevada County.

It draws visitors from outlying areas to watch world-class performers, ranging from Wynton Marsalis to Willie Nelson. Many of them dine out, stay at nearby hotels and B&Bs, and shop at local merchants.

The Center has been a catalyst in making Nevada County a destination for the arts. All told, the arts create an estimated economic impact totaling millions of dollars, hundreds of jobs and hundreds of thousands of dollars in tax receipts in the County.

The Center for the Arts continues to draw an impressive lineup of performers:

Arlo Guthrie, April 11
The legendary singer-songwriter comes to Grass Valley’s Veterans Memorial Auditorium for an evening featuring his most beloved songs. For the past year Arlo has toured in honor of late father Woody Guthrie’s centennial.

An Evening with Michael Nesmith, May 3
A member of ‘60s-sensation the Monkees, Nesmith was the most proficient instrumentalist in the group.

Richard Thompson, May 7
Named by Rolling Stone as one of the top 20 guitarists of all time.

Suzanne Vega, May 22
Regarded as one of the most brilliant songwrit- ers of her generation, Vega emerged as a leading figure of the folk-music revival of the early 1980s.

Paula Poundstone, June 7
Back by popular demand, Paula Poundstone is one of the greatest humorists of our time.

Marc Cohn, June 15
The Grammy Award-winning, American folk rock singer-songwriter is best known for his song Walking In Memphis.

(Photo: SuzanneVega.com)