Grantee Database
Nevada County Arts & Culture
Grant Year
2025-26
Grant Program
Arts and Youth
Award Amount
$20,500.00
Project Description
With support from the California Arts Council, Nevada County Arts Council will deliver Bass Dojo—a therapeutic, culturally responsive music program for system-engaged youth at Nevada County’s only remaining residential facility for high-needs students, Mountain Valley Child and Family Services. Led by professional bassist and seasoned educator Pancho Tomaselli, the program provides in-school instruction centered on improvisation, collaboration, and personal expression. Youth will find their voice, and together build resilience, emotional literacy, and a sense of agency through creative practice. Grant funds will support artist compensation, curriculum development, instrument rentals and evaluation. Bass Dojo serves students in a deeply remote, rural area ranked in the lowest HPI quartile and historically underfunded by state arts resources. It directly addresses a critical service gap—meeting CAC priorities through equity-focused, healing-centered arts engagement in one of California’s most underserved communities.
Organization Summary
Nevada County Arts & Culture’s Core Programs and Services can be understood across six interconnected areas.
CORE PROGRAMS
ARTS & CULTURE PLANNING / CULTURAL INFRASTRUCTURE
—Culture Forward 2026–2032 implementation
—Administration of the Grass Valley–Nevada City and Truckee California Cultural Districts
—Cultural asset mapping and regional cultural planning
—Arts & Economic Prosperity research participation
—Civic partnerships and public-sector collaboration
ARTIST SERVICES & CREATIVE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
—Business of Art Symposium
—Artist Accelerator
—Technical assistance and grant guidance
—Artist networking and convenings
—Fiscal sponsorship / Arts Incubator
—Artist directories and Calls to Artists listings
ARTS EDUCATION & YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
—Artists in Schools
—Poetry Out Loud
—Bass Dojo
—Sierra Poetry Festival youth programming
—Teaching artist residencies and workshops
LITERARY ARTS & PUBLIC PROGRAMMING
—Sierra Poetry Festival
—SPF Fringe
—Nevada County Poet Laureate Program
—Youth Poet Laureate Program
—Public readings, workshops, and civic dialogue programs
PUBLIC ART, EXHIBITIONS & PLACEKEEPING
—Art in Public Spaces
—Cultural District activations
—Art at the Airport
—MUSE magazine and cultural storytelling initiatives
—Creative placemaking and community exhibitions
REGIONAL LEADERSHIP, ADVOCACY ®GRANTING
—State-Local Partner leadership
—Regional mentorship of Glenn County Arts & Culture
—Upstate California Creative Corps legacy leadership
—Arts advocacy training and legislative engagement
—Regranting and Individual Artists Fellowship administration
Organization
Nevada County Arts & Culture
Address
PO BOX 1833
NEVADA CITY
95959-1833
County
Nevada
Region
Upstate
Website
Congressional District
California's 3rd congressional district
State Assembly District
District 1
State Senate District
District 1
