GRASS VALLEY, Calif. – North Star House is inviting Nevada County’s creative community to gather, connect and, for the first time, head upstairs.
On Thursday, September 3, from 5–7 p.m., North Star House will host a Creative Meetup in partnership with Nevada County Arts & Culture, bringing together local creatives for an evening focused on connection, collaboration and new opportunities at the historic estate.
A highlight of the evening will be a first-of-its-kind guided public tour of North Star House’s unfinished second floor, led by Kaelen Jennings, Development Manager at North Star House. The second floor is currently undergoing restoration and is not typically open to the public.
North Star House has a vision for how the space can be used when brought back to life, but before that vision moves forward, the organization wants to hear from the people who may ultimately use it.
During the tour, attendees will get an early look at the spaces and be invited to share their perspective: Would they use them? What could they see themselves using them for? What kinds of workshops, programs, gatherings, exhibitions or other creative activities could make the second floor a meaningful resource for the community?
North Star House will also share more about its Creative Exchange program and the different ways local artists and creatives can get involved. Through the program, participants can contribute 15 hours of volunteer time in exchange for a two-hour week day use of North Star House or its grounds to support their own work and programming. The broader vision includes artist-led workshops, outdoor classes, demonstrations, exhibitions, collaborative projects and other creative uses of the property.
Diana Cushway, a Creative Exchange participant and North Star House’s Dance & Theater Coordinator, is taking that involvement a step further by leading the upcoming public event “An Autumnal Evening in Another Era”. Drawing on her professional dance background and interest in historic dance, Diana is developing an immersive community event featuring period-inspired demonstrations, instruction and activities throughout the estate, which will take place on Saturday, October 17th.
Her involvement reflects the kind of connection North Star House hopes to build more of. The organization hopes the Creative Meetup on September 3 will open up conversation, spark ideas and, most importantly, gather direct community input about how the unfinished second floor and other parts of the property could be used. By hearing what local creatives would actually want to see, use and participate in, North Star House can better understand how the restored space can support the creative community in meaningful and practical ways.
Event: Creatives Meetup
Date & Time: Thursday, September 3, from 5–7 p.m. at
Address: North Star House, 12075 Auburn Road in Grass Valley