Grass Valley, CA — Nevada County Arts Council invites the community to celebrate the official launch of California Arts, Culture & Creativity Month on Friday, March 27, 2026, with a public toast to the arts at 4:45 p.m. at The Center for the Arts in downtown Grass Valley.
The celebration follows a full day of dialogue with more than 30 emerging civic leaders participating in the Nevada County Community Leadership Institute’s Arts & Culture Day, chaired by Nevada County Arts Council. The convening introduces participants to the region’s creative economy, cultural districts, and the role of arts and culture in community vitality and economic development.
Special guest Julie Baker, CEO of California for the Arts and California Arts Advocates, will join local arts leaders, board members, and community partners for the launch. Representatives from the offices of Meghan Dahle and Heather Hadwick are also expected to attend.
Throughout the month of April, Nevada County Arts Council will highlight opportunities for residents to participate in arts advocacy, attend cultural events, and support the region’s creative sector during a pivotal period for public investment in the arts statewide.
“I’m honored to help launch this celebration in Nevada County,” says Baker. “This year’s Arts, Culture & Creativity Month arrives at a pivotal moment for the arts in California. Through the #50in50 campaign, we are working with partners across the state to secure a $50 million annual investment in the California Arts Council—a necessary step toward correcting decades of underinvestment in the arts and protecting programs like California Cultural Districts that strengthen local economies and community identity. Advocacy at the local level, including here in Nevada County, is essential to achieving that goal.”
Nevada County Arts Council staff will share practical ways community members can lend their voices in support of arts funding and policy priorities at the local and state levels.
Arts, Culture & Creativity Month is a statewide initiative recognizing the role of artists, cultural workers, nonprofit organizations, and creative businesses in strengthening California’s communities and economy. In Nevada County, the celebration connects directly with regional efforts such as Culture Forward 2026–2032, the countywide arts and culture action plan guiding long-term investment and collaboration across sectors.
Community members are warmly invited to attend the March 27 toast and learn how to take part in a month of advocacy, celebration, and creative engagement.
Learn more: https://www.nevadacountyarts.org/accm