Nevada County Arts Council Announces New Arts & Culture Publication: MUSE

Nevada City May 3, 2024 – Nevada County Arts Council is proud to announce the publication of MUSE—A Guide to Local Art and Culture celebrating the artists, arts producers, and cultural heritage of Nevada County and our two California Cultural Districts, east and west. Please join us as our special guest this Monday, May 6 at ‘Uba Seo Gallery in downtown Nevada City for the West County celebration of MUSE.

MUSE is a new 8.5” x 11” glossy annual publication, with 5000 free print copies in distribution at locations across Nevada County and online. MUSE reflects our diverse arts ecology, recognizing that our local government along with the Tribe, our Schools, residents, visitors, locals and newcomers are all invested stakeholders involved in the creation of, and continuing success of, our home here in Nevada County. It highlights our area’s rich cultural history and expansive creative community.

“This beautiful journal is both a source of inspiration and information. We rarely toot our own horns, and often rely on others to tell our stories,” shares Jesse Locks, Editor of MUSE, and board member at Nevada County Arts Council. “MUSE is an opportunity for us to dig deeper and uncover new and emerging artists, share more about unknown but formative programs, promote experimentation and exploration, and celebrate the often hard, even exhausting, but always rewarding work we do.”

Along with the many deeply researched, heartfelt, and wonderfully written editorials, MUSE features an Artist Directory, Business Directory, Events Calendar and specially commissioned Cultural Asset Map to show the world that Nevada County is a special place to live, work and play. Articles include a feature on the thriving underground art scene, spotlights on some of the Upstate California Creative Corps grantees and projects, a highlight on Arts in Education, and a word on Arts Advocacy from Julie Baker, CEO of California for the Arts. Our Executive Director, Eliza Tudor, had the privilege of presenting MUSE to each member of the California Arts Council at their most recent in-person meeting. It is thrilling to know that our state’s art agency has eyes on our county’s creative community.

“Nevada County is many things to many people: A sanctuary from urban life, an important destination for cultural tourists, a place to experience history and nature, side by side, a place of innovation, and home to the lucky few,” says Eliza Tudor, Executive Director of Nevada County Arts Council in her opening letter. “Our first edition of Nevada County MUSE takes a broad sweep at just a few gems that represent a little of what we are. This includes a sprinkling of bigger-name, long-standing institutions, and glimpses of subcultures and countercultures who are forging change or challenging the status quo.”

Our release party will be the first chance to claim space in the 2025 edition of MUSE. If interested in claiming your listing or ad space now- please connect with us at the guide release party to make a request and to say hello! For now, this is the only way to request an ad or listing, but soon to follow online advertising and listing request forms will be released and announced to the public. Nevada County Arts Council is soon to launch a new webpage dedicated to MUSE, where you can discover more about the 2025 edition and how you can get involved. Have an idea for an article, or an in with a longtime resident who knows some fascinating local history? MUSE is a vehicle for the many voices from our community to be heard, and we want to hear from you!

Funded in part by a Nevada County Community Resiliency Grant, Nevada County Arts Council partnered with both the Cities of Grass Valley and Nevada City, their Chambers of Commerce and the Grass Valley Downtown Association. Along with the Town of Truckee, their Chambers of Commerce, the Truckee Downtown Merchants Association, and Truckee Arts Alliance. We are so grateful to these partners and the many writers, photographers, artists and editors who were involved in creating this first publication of Nevada County MUSE.