In 2019, Nevada County Arts Council published its exhaustive survey of arts education in schools across Western Nevada County TK-12, following months of interviews with principals and staff across 32 schools and, in grades 7-12, a survey of 2017 data submitted to the state.

Why? Baseline data about arts programming in Nevada County schools highlights our unique and creative “flagship” programs, and identifies gaps in addressing standards or issues of access. Our survey is a key component of countywide cultural planning. It recognizes that Nevada County is unique in California as the only rural county home to two state-designated California Cultural Districts - Grass Valley-Nevada City Cultural District and Truckee Cultural District. Cultural planning takes into account the support for, and re-invigoration of, arts education in our schools, and our recommendations included the need for a comprehensive strategic plan to guide efforts in this direction.

With our survey in hand we are now eligible for planning support via California County Superintendents Educational Services Association. Together with Nevada County Superintendent of Schools, and with funding from the Stuart Foundation to support consulting from the California Alliance for Arts Education, we will deliver this Strategic Arts Education Plan in early 2020.

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ARTS NOW HEROES

CALIFORNIA ALLIANCE FOR ARTS EDUCATION

[Via ArtsEd411.org] Eliza Tudor and Brian Buckley, of Nevada County Arts Council, knew that a sure-fire way to start a conversation was by introducing data from a high-quality assessment. That’s why they set about collecting baseline data about arts programming in Nevada County schools, highlighting their unique and creative “flagship” programs, and identifying gaps in addressing standards or issues of access. They gathered a team of retired educators, including two leading lights of the Council’s Education Committee, Liz McAteer and Stan Miller, and used those connections to interview principals in the TK-12 schools. They presented their findings at their Arts Now Breakfast Launch event held by all the local partners. They then completed a successful application for Strategic Arts Planning Support via California County Superintendents Educational Services Association (CCSESA) in partnership with the Nevada County Superintendent of Schools, which they will implement with the help of the California Alliance's Arts Now Planning Initiative. Check out the results of their State of the Arts survey here.