what is spring into art?

As the wildflowers begin to bloom and the waters of the Yuba and Bear Rivers call to us once again, the people of the Sierra Foothills celebrate the return of Spring. In time for Arts, Culture & Creativity Month and National Poetry Month, the Grass Valley-Nevada City (GVNC) Cultural District is resplendent with possibilities. Whether you’re in the mood to take in a show, share some poetry, enjoy a gallery opening, or get your groove on, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

Scroll down, or use the navigation bar, to view weekly arts and cultural events!

From classical to comedic, Americana to avant garde, the performing arts are alive in the GVNC Cultural District. Check out the many performing arts centers throughout western Nevada County catering to a variety of tastes and talents.

April 6

Breabach
The Center for the Arts
Securely ranked among Scotland’s most skilled and imaginative contemporary folk acts, Breabach unite deep roots in Highland and Island tradition with the innovative musical ferment of their Glasgow base.
Tickets

April 7

Gold Country World Dance Showcase
Nevada Theatre
Gold Country World Showcase has been performing in Nevada County for over 9 years. During that time 100's of dancers perform many styles of Belly Dance, Flamenco, Hula, Bollywood and more. This year they offer three performances at the historic Nevada Theatre with artisans from the Northern and Central Coasts of California and beyond.
Tickets

April 12

Yuba River Spring Jam
Miners Foundry
Family-friendly music & art festival! Local musicians and performers will entertain for hours. Includes a Silent Art Auction with donations from local artists and tasty food and drinks! Beer and wine served for 21+
Tickets

April 12

Herd Mentality: Nevada City Film Festival Annual Comedy Night
Nevada Theatre
First ever Herd Mentality: Stand-up Showdown presented in association with BVNKR. 12-15 best local and regional Comedians perform their funniest sets.
Tickets

April 12 & 14

The Princess and the Pea
The Center for the Arts
A delightful adaptation, with all the magic and enchantment from the classic fairytale! Featuring a cast & crew of 37 talented kids, between ages 8 and 15.
Tickets

April 13

Irene Tu & Ian Lara
Nevada City Film Festival Annual Comedy Night
Nevada Theatre
Saturday night's headlining comedy show features two of the most talked about up-and-coming comedians on the circuit, Irene Tu and Ian Lara. Irene's first comedy album WE'RE DONE NOW debuted this March as #1 on the iTunes comedy charts. She was named one of Vulture's "Comedians You Should and Will Know" and singled out in the SF Chronicle as an "artist on the brink of fame." Ian was named a Just for Laughs New Face of Comedy in 2021 and filmed a half-hour comedy special for their digital platform. Freeform television recently nominated him for the Borough's Finest and Funniest at the 2021 Young, Black, and Freeform Awards. Ian's HBO solo special "ROMANTIC COMEDY" is now streaming on MAX.
Tickets

April 14

Clerks
Nevada City Film Festival Annual Comedy Night
Nevada Theatre
30th Anniversary Screening of Clerks. Considered a landmark in independent filmmaking, Kevin Smith's (chasing Amy, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, Mallrats), directorial debut made a huge splash when it premiered at Sundance 30 years ago. This film follows a day in the lives of two convenience clerks name Dante and Randal as they annoy customers, discuss movies, and play hockey on the store roof. With its quirky characters and clever, quotable dialogue, Clerks is the ultimate clarion call for slackers everywhere to unite and, uh, do something we guess?
Tickets

April 18

Fanna-Fi-Allah Sufi Qawwali Ensemble
The Center for the Arts
For over two decades, the Fanna-Fi-Allah Sufi Qawwali ensemble has been the preeminent torchbearer of traditional Sufi Qawwali music on a global scale. Upholding the art form in its most authentic and time-honored tradition, Fanna-Fi-Allah serves as a vital cultural conduit between the East and the West, championing a message of universal tolerance that is imperative for our current era.
Tickets

April 19-May 18

Snow Falling on Cedars
Community Asian Theatre of the Sierra (CATS)
Nevada Theatre
CATS celebrates its 30th year with the return of Snow Falling on Cedars, written by David Guterson. This national best-selling novel was a PEN/Faulkner Award Winner. Kevin McKeon adapted it to the stage in 2007 and directed it for CATS in 2010 and will reprise his role as director. The play takes place on San Piedro Island, north of Puget Sound, in coastal Washington, a place so isolated that no one who lives there can afford to make enemies.  In 1954 a local fisherman is found suspiciously drowned, and a Japanese-American named Kabuo Miyamoto is charged with his murder. Snow Falling on Cedars opens in a courtroom as the trial begins.
Tickets

April 19

Dead Winter Carpenters
Miners Foundry
Hailing from North Lake Tahoe, Americana/roots rock band, Dead Winter Carpenters, has built a reputation for pouring their hearts and souls into each performance.
Tickets

April 20 

Family Fun Day, Featuring Giant Puppets
The Center for the Arts
Offered two times a year, this free all-day event is geared toward families and introduces many young children in our community to their first-ever arts experience. We offer families the opportunity to participate in healthy art-based activities together, such as face painting, crafts, and a balloon artist and other fun entertainment. Featuring performances by Giant Puppets Save the World, Nick Federoff, Dance Naturals. Arts and crafts, face painting, balloons and more!
Tickets

April 20

Alasdair Fraser & Natalie Haas
The Center for the Arts
The musical partnership between consummate performer Alasdair Fraser, “the Michael Jordan of Scottish fiddling”, and brilliant Californian cellist Natalie Haas spans the full spectrum between intimate chamber music and ecstatic dance energy. Over the last 20 years of creating a buzz at festivals and concert halls across the world, they have truly set the standard for fiddle and cello in traditional music. They continue to thrill audiences internationally with their virtuosic playing, their near-telepathic understanding and the joyful spontaneity and sheer physical presence of their music.
Tickets

April 21

Inconcert Sierra Presents Frissonette
Seventh Day Adventist Church
In March 2023 we met Frisson, whose extraordinary musicianship, palpable energy, and an electrifying performance nearly lit up the entire Sierra Nevada. This time, we will enjoy a sensational program of Fauré, Brahms and Mozart quartets  – by recent graduates from the top music conservatories in the nation. Frisson means a phenomenon of chills or goosebumps that comes from music, a shiver, a thrill. That is guaranteed with this ensemble!
Tickets

April 21

Tinsley Ellis- Naked Truth Tour
The Center for the Arts
According to Atlanta-based blues guitarist, singer and songwriter Tinsley Ellis, his new, first-ever solo acoustic album, Naked Truth, is both “a departure and an arrival.” Ellis has been recording and travelling the world for over four decades, delivering his feral, guitar-fueled, original electric blues-rock to ever-growing audiences at concert halls, festivals, and clubs. Naked Truth is steeped in the folk blues traditions of Muddy Waters, Skip James, Son House, Robert Johnson and even Leo Kottke.
Tickets

April 25-28

New Songs Fest
The Center for the Arts
Four days of workshops with topics including songwriting, technical production, instrumental, and vocal/rhythm. Workshops with Rufus Wainwright, Ayla Nereo, Brett Dennen, Rita Hosking, Royal Wood, Brian Rivers, Conrad Sisk, & Bryan Dyer
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April 25

Eilen Jewell
Miners Foundry
With sultry vocals, emotionally intense compositions and swampy beats, Eilen Jewell has consistently asserted a contemporary flair while borrowing from and re-configuring traditional templates. Hailed as “one of America’s most intriguing, creative, and idiosyncratic voices” by American Songwriter, Jewell built her career the old-fashioned way, touring relentlessly with the kind of undeniable live show that converts the uninitiated into instant acolytes.
Tickets

April 25

Brett Dennen
The Center for the Arts
A songwriter, performer, watercolor artist, and environmental conservationist and outdoorsman, the shows he performs and the events he hosts generate more than good vibes. His impact has been to gather like-minded music fans to consistently try to make the world a better place.
Tickets

April 26

Rufus Wainwright
The Center for the Arts
Praised by the New York Times for his “genuine originality,” Rufus Wainwright has established himself as one of the great male vocalists, songwriters, and composers of his generation.
Tickets

April 27

Ayla Nereo
The Center for the Arts
Ayla Nereo is a creature of forests and rivers, a bridger of the timeless and modern, a musician and poet weaving forth a magical and emotional world of sonic beauty. Lyrical meditations and riddles of language dance into wondrous tapestries of sound and story, from electronic folk ballads to celtic melodies and elvin loop-pedal mantras. With an uncanny ability to crack open the heart, Ayla's songs are an ode to the wonder of being human, inviting us deeper into the exquisite and innately psychedelic dream of this moment.
Tickets

April 28

New Songs Stage Time with Rita Hosking
The Center for the Arts
Participants have spent all weekend at the festival, writing and preparing their songs and now it's time to show the world! Join us in the theater to enjoy new songs by talented artists and get a sneak peek at the next generation of songwriters!
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In celebration of National Poetry Month, April hosts a month-long fringe festival along with the 8th annual Sierra Poetry Festival. From pop-ups to book releases, youth voices to the Ridge, poetry is an integral part of the GVNC scene.

April 3

Five Nevada County Women Poets, 8th Edition
A Sierra Poetry Festival Popup
Miners Foundry
In this their eighth annual Sierra Poetry Festival pop-up event, five Nevada County Women read their poems. Featuring Kirsten Casey, Judy Crowe, Beth Ford, Ingrid Keriotis, and Judie Rae.
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April 5

Poetry Reading with Patricia Caspers and Rooja Mohassessy
A Sierra Poetry Festival Popup
Madelyn Helling Library
Join two local poets for a night of poetry and intrigue. Poetry Reading with Patricia Caspers and Rooja Mohassessy. Open mic to follow.
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April 6

Dancing on the Edge of Faith and Shadow
A Sierra Poetry Festival Popup
Aerialution
This pop up is “a two-parter,” says poet and presenter Michaelyn Logue. Join Psi Process, an avant-garde sound project from Santa Cruz, for a generative writing workshop following a theme of Faith and Shadow. Attendees will be guided through somatic exercises, followed by creative visioning. Working with prompts, participants will be invited to the mic to read their creation, as “the band” creates an ambient soundscape in response. Dancing on the Edge of Faith and Shadow includes an improvised performance with Embodiment Collective. Invited poets from the generative part of the session, along with others including Bishop Randall, Chris Olander, Sands Hall, Michaelyn Logue and Kirk Lumpkin, will read their work as Psi Process creates a soundscape and our aerial dancers explore their own interpretation of Faith and Shadow.
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April 11

Open Mic Poetry Slam Lottery! MC’d by Michael Clarity
A Sierra Poetry Festival Popup
The Iron Door at The Holbrooke
Hosted by Michael Clarity, readings begin at 5:45pm sharp. Arrive in time to put your name in the lottery tumbler. Starting at 5:45, we’ll draw the names of 20 poets one by one. Your original poem should not exceed three minutes; please time yourself beforehand. Compete for the opportunity to read your poem on the Main Stage as part of Sierra Poetry Festival. Three finalists will be selected by our judges, Nevada County Poet Laureate Kirsten Casey, Poet Laureate emeritus Chris Olander, and local poet winner of the 22nd Annual Elixir Poetry Award Rooja Mohassessy. Looking forward to this flash round of poetic voices!
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April 13

Sierra Poetry Festival
Presented by Nevada County Arts Council
The Center for the Arts
International festival marking National Poetry Month from the rolling foothills of California’s Gold Country to the rugged High Sierra, bringing a rich literary community together to celebrate the spoken word and reach out to new audiences in fresh ways.
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April 18

Poetry Happy Hour at Communal Cafe
A Sierra Poetry Festival Popup
Communal Cafe
Join Nevada County Poet Laureate Kirsten Casey for a celebration of all things poetry. Prompts and prizes, all are invited!
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April 19

Book Release Party: The Watching Sky by Judy Crowe
A Sierra Poetry Festival Popup
Artists Studio in the Foothills (ASiF)
Join poet and author Judy Crowe as she reads from her new book from Cornerstone Press.  Artist talk, book signing, and light refreshments to follow.
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April 19

Envisioning Poetry: Poets and Visual Artists Collaborate
A Sierra Poetry Festival Popup
Nevada City Winery Gallery
Opening reception and poetry reading with poets Rachael Courier and Graham McGrew and artists Meredith Manning, Maile Claire, and Mark Wilcox.
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April 20

Tracks Along the Left Coast
A Sierra Poetry Festival poetry pop-up!
North Columbia Schoolhouse Cultural Center
This year, we sought to extend our focus from those who have written from, or passed through, the Ridge, to other watersheds and their associated poets. Our theme, ‘Tracks Along the Left Coast’—is a nod to Schelling’s “Post Coyote at Orono,” a nod to Jaime de Angulo himself, and a nod to all those who continue making tracks. What have song, story, and language been on this westerly chunk of the continent? What funny forms might they take today, and what might they look and sound like in days to come? How does land make culture?
Tickets

April 21

The Poetry Crashers 3rd Annual Earth Fest Celebration
A Sierra Poetry Festival Popup
Downtown Nevada City
Upstate California Creative Corps grantees The Poetry Crashers will bring their magic to the Nevada City Earth Day Festival. Their interactive booth at the Earth Day festival celebrates their project Postcards from Earth. This alien invitation station encourages the humans of Nevada County to write postcards on the theme of our shared interest, Planet Earth! The Poetry Crashers will intersperse their galactic musings throughout the day with postcard readings and a selection of poems.
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April 27

Poetry in Parks: Students and Poets Read
A Sierra Poetry Festival Popup
Empire Mine State Park
In cooperation with the California State Parks Department, and California Poets in the Schools, Kirsten Casey, Poet Laureate of Nevada County, will be hosting an outdoor poetry reading with local adult and high school poets. Special guest, California Poet Laureate Lee Herrick, will attend to speak, and listen to poems about the Empire Mine and his “My California” prompt, which was part of the curriculum in Kirsten Casey’s two high school residencies. Musical guest Davia will play before the reading. Picnics are allowed, so bring a blanket and some snacks. Should there be inclement weather the reading will take place in the Clubhouse.
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Take a stroll along Broad Street in Nevada City or Mill Street in Grass Valley and discover the vibrant arts scene. With incredible galleries and artists' collectives showcasing regional and local talent, experience the beauty inspired by the region and captured in a variety of mediums. In addition to galleries, many cafes and restaurants display the work of our local artists. Take a walking tour, attend an opening reception, and enjoy the unique personalities of our downtown districts.

March 8-April 20

A Celebration of Water: Works from the Nevada County Camera Club
Granucci Gallery, The Center for the Arts
The Nevada County Camera Club proudly presents its third photography exhibit at The Granucci Gallery, “A Celebration of Water.” This exhibit features a diverse collection of images that captures the awe-inspiring beauty of water in its many forms. We invite you on a journey to celebrate the inspirational power of water–from the dramatic waterfalls of Yosemite to the serenity at Lake Tahoe; the turbulence of ocean waves and a colorful swirl of the Yuba River.

March 26, 2024-March 2025

The Story of Land, Water, and People Exhibition
‘Uba Seo Gallery
The Gallery and Culture space serves as a strong focal point for raising visibility and telling the stories of the Nevada City Rancheria Nisenan Tribe. The current exhibition is the result of a journey the Tribe embarked on through a series of gatherings and workshops that centered on discussions about water, passing on tradition, relationship to land, Tribal history, the Missing Murdered Indigenous Women’s (MMIW) movement, revitalizing Nisenan Language, and intergenerational trauma. The eight-month exchange resulted in the creation of paintings, drawings, beadwork, film, sculpture, and a three-wall indoor mural. In addition, five non-Nisenan artists collaborated individually with CHIRP on artworks to create respectful and reflective works. These conversations come to light in this exhibition by utilizing art as the conduit. 
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April 4-28

The Art of the Foothill Theatre Company
Seven Stars Gallery
A selection from posters, stage designs and other works from the Foothill Theatre Company from the 1970s, 80s and 90s featuring the work of Ralph Fetterly and George Cloud. Exhibition Reception, Sunday 14 April from 4 to 7.
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April 4-June 28

Breathe In Sky | Project Wild Edges
Part of the Art in Public Spaces Program
Weekdays at The Eric Rood Administration Center
An extension of a California Humanities-funded Project Wild Edges, a magical play by Lisa Barker and Jenny Hale presented along Wolf Creek Trail in Grass Valley. Hale and Barker were inspired by the wild urban interface–the “wild edge” of the trail deep in Wolf Creek Canyon just steps away from the Pine Creek Shopping Center. With Breathe in Sky, we bring Project Wild Edges indoors. The exhibition features handmade costumes, original paintings by Ron Kenedi, photographs from Project Wild Edges, a short documentary about the project, and an original sculpture by Jenny Hale. Breathe in Sky introduces us to ways of seeing and experiencing landscapes as places of being. How can this permeable edge that we live on, the liminal space between nature and civilization, be treated more thoughtfully? How can the choices we make today be in right relationship with tomorrow? Presented by Nevada County Arts Council in partnership with the County of Nevada
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April 13-May 11

Jon Hioki: It Never Ends
Winnie Superette
’It Never Ends’ showcases new drawings and paintings from Northern California-based artist and graphic designer Jon Hioki. These collected works from 2021 to the present feature his newly explored “tangle” motif. The tangles, one continuous line intertwined and weaved into itself, have come to represent the artist’s mental state. Hioki equates these tangles as maps of mental stresses, intrusive and repetitive thoughts, and the circular nature of all things. Opening reception on Saturday, April 13th at 5 pm.
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April 26-June 1

Forest Aliya | Elemental Beings
Granucci Gallery, The Center for the Arts
‘Elemental Beings’ is a collection of stories about the integration of sound and light and how the natural cycles of the elements (fire, water, earth, air) are in harmony by being in a constant state of balancing and rebalancing through symbiotic relationships. Acrylic, oil, and clay paint on paper and wood panel.
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April 27 & 28

Springtime in the Pines Quilt Show
Annual presentation by the local Quilt Guild. 
Nevada County Fairgrounds
This year is the 40th Anniversary of the founding of our guild and this year’s show will honor and celebrate the many contributions of the guild to the Nevada Count community. 200+ quilts of all styles on display, vendors, basket raffle, Country Store, Silent Auction, Quilters Cafe.
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April 6-May 5

Springtime at Ananda: Tulips Festival
Crystal Hermitage
Enjoy a place of peace, meditation and beauty by visiting a gorgeous colorful tulip garden at Springtime at Ananda at Crystal Hermitage.
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April 20

NatureFest
Bear Yuba Land Trust
Grab the family and head outside for a fun-filled day of self-guided activities! BYLT and their recreational partners will be set up at four local trailheads with everything you need to explore nature and enjoy the outdoors! With a very special appearance by Woodsy Owl!
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April 21

Earth Fest Street Fair
Downtown Nevada City
Join the Nevada City Chamber of Commerce for their 3rd Annual Earth Fest Celebration in downtown Nevada City. This event is sure to inform and inspire all who attend and will include live music, special performances, interactive booths and demos, kid’s activities, earth-friendly vendors, organic foods, and more.
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Immerse yourself in the rich history of the region and get a glimpse into our fascinating heritage. Join a historical tour or wander the streets to uncover the stories of our past. Through gallery exhibitions highlighting the area’s original inhabitants to our town’s dedication to historical preservation, there is always something to learn about one of the most pivotal regions in California and American history.

MARCH 26, 2024-MARCH 2025

The Story of Land, Water, and People Exhibition
‘Uba Seo Gallery
The Gallery and Culture space serves as a strong focal point for raising visibility and telling the stories of the Nevada City Rancheria Nisenan Tribe. The current exhibition is the result of a journey the Tribe embarked on through a series of gatherings and workshops that centered on discussions about water, passing on tradition, relationship to land, Tribal history, the Missing Murdered Indigenous Women’s (MMIW) movement, revitalizing Nisenan Language, and intergenerational trauma. The eight-month exchange resulted in the creation of paintings, drawings, beadwork, film, sculpture, and a three-wall indoor mural. In addition, five non-Nisenan artists collaborated individually with CHIRP on artworks to create respectful and reflective works. These conversations come to light in this exhibition by utilizing art as the conduit. 
Learn More

April 21

“Scenes from the Life of Julia Morgan”: A Theatrical Presentation
Presented by The North Star House Conservancy
North Star House
Step into history at the North Star House, where “Scenes from the Life of Julia Morgan” brings to life the remarkable tale of California’s pioneering architect. This historical presentation is a five act play, written by playwright Judith Offer and performed by members of local theaters and North Star House volunteers. The cast will participate in a Q&A after the performance, and guided tours of North Star House will be offered.
Tickets