The Center for the Arts is a performing arts organization and venue in Grass Valley, California, located at 314 West Main Street in the Nevada County foothills, roughly an hour from Sacramento.[1][2][3] It is described as Nevada County's premier performing arts organization and presents a diverse slate of touring and regional musical acts.[3]
At a glance
- Located at 314 West Main Street, Grass Valley, CA.[1][3]
- Described as "Nevada County's premier performing arts organization."[3]
- Operates on a membership model: tickets are discounted for members versus non-members.[1][4][5]
- Produces the annual California WorldFest, held at the Nevada County Fairgrounds.[6][3]
- Books shows at partner venues including the Veterans Memorial Auditorium (the county's largest venue) and an "Off Center Stage."[7][8][2]
- Underwent a multimillion-dollar renovation beginning in 2018, expected to complete by Spring 2019.[3]
- 21,000-square-foot facility with a 507-seat retractable-seat theater, visual arts gallery, bar/cafe, and classroom space.[9][10]
Founding and history
The organization was founded in 1999, when a group of artists and art supporters under the leadership of realtor Jon Blinder formed a board of directors and filed for incorporation as The Northern California Center for the Arts.[11][12] On August 31, 2001, the Center received its 501(c)(3) status under that corporate name.[12][11]
The building at 314 West Main Street has its own history: according to the Center's official history, it was built in 1947 and originally served as an auto dealership — Hartman Chevrolet, later Hartman Toyota, Oldsmobile, Hansen's Subaru, and a Yamaha dealership — through 1984, before becoming Metropolitan Beauty School in the late 1980s and Gold Cities Gymnastics and Dance Center in the 1990s.[13] Jon Blinder purchased the property in 2001 and donated it to the Center in 2003.[14]
A milestone year for the organization was 2009: Executive Director Julie Baker was hired, the Center staged its first 950-seat show at the Grass Valley Veterans Building, and the City of Grass Valley provided a groundbreaking $250,000 in Redevelopment Agency funds to plan for capital improvements.[15]
Role in the regional scene
The Center for the Arts serves as the principal presenter of touring and regional music in the Grass Valley / Nevada City area, a small foothills community noted for an outsized, "vibrant artistic and musical community" that draws big-name acts on tour.[2][7] Its programming spans a wide range of genres, from world and reggae music to folk, blues, rock and country.[6][1][5][8][3]
The organization sells tickets through its website (Thecenterforthearts.org) and operates a membership program; members receive reduced ticket prices relative to the general public.[1][4][5][7]
Venues and stages
Beyond its main hall, the Center programs shows at multiple venues around Nevada County:
- The Veterans Memorial Auditorium (255 S. Auburn St., Grass Valley), described as the largest venue in the county, where the Center co-presents larger acts.[8][2][16]
- An "Off Center Stage," used for smaller performances.[7]
- During its 2018–2019 renovation, the Center launched an "OnTheGo" series, booking bands and events at other county venues including the Veterans Memorial Auditorium, the Grass Valley Elks Lodge, the Foothills Event Center, and the Don Baggett Theater at Nevada Union High School.[3]
Renovation (2018–2019)
In 2018 the Center prepared to break ground on a highly anticipated multimillion-dollar renovation, with a groundbreaking ceremony scheduled for Tuesday, May 29 at 10 a.m.[3] The work, expected to be completed by Spring 2019, was planned to include an entirely new Main Stage Theatre with larger capacity and a more flexible floor plan, an expanded bar and gallery space, new bathrooms, additional green rooms, a new sound system, and accessibility upgrades.[3]
California WorldFest
The Center for the Arts produces the annual California WorldFest, a multi-day music festival held at the Nevada County Fairgrounds in Grass Valley.[6][3] California WorldFest was founded in 1997 by Dan DeWayne and Christine Myers; the Center purchased it in 2014.[17] The 2015 edition was the festival's 19th, with a lineup including Beats Antique, Lucinda Williams, Richard Thompson and Dengue Fever; one-day passes started at $60.[6] The 22nd annual edition was scheduled for July 12–15, 2018.[3]
Notable presented performances
Articles in this corpus document a range of acts the Center presented or co-presented between 2015 and 2018:
- Dengue Fever (Los Angeles Cambodian pop / garage-rock band) at California WorldFest, July 18, 2015.[6]
- Alela Diane and Ryan Francesconi, Portland-based artists, celebrating the release of Cold Moon on Oct. 24, 2015 (tickets $20 members / $24 non-members).[1]
- Tim Bluhm (of Chico's The Mother Hips) and Scott Law, 2016 ($17 members / $20 non-members).[4]
- Pinnacles, a Nevada City prog/math-rock band, who kicked off their West Coast tour at the Center's Off Center Stage on March 17, 2016.[7]
- Tarrus Riley, Jamaican reggae artist, May 26, 2016 (tickets from $24 members / $27 non-members).[5]
- The Mick Fleetwood Blues Band feat. Rick Vito, Sept. 23, 2016 at the Veterans Memorial Auditorium, with openers The Achilles Wheel Duo (tickets from $42).[8]
- The Psychedelic Furs with special guest Robyn Hitchcock, July 23, 2017 at the Veterans Memorial Auditorium, co-presented with the venue (tickets from $37).[2]
- Brandi Carlile with opener Savannah Conley, Dec. 17, 2017 at the Veterans Memorial Auditorium.[16]