Public arts commission recommends Nevada City support 'Culture Forward' regional action plan

The Nevada City Public Arts Commission voted unanimously to recommend that City Council adopt Culture Forward 2026–2032, a countywide arts and culture action plan developed by Nevada County Arts and Culture.

Eliza Tuda, executive director of Nevada County Arts and Culture, told the commission the plan reflects more than 18 months of community engagement and an asset-mapping effort covering more than 1,000 cultural sites across the county. Tuda said the plan is intended to align cities, county agencies, schools, chambers and cultural organizations behind 12 priorities and three core implementation plans: career pathways and jobs retention, a regional arts marketing plan, and a funding plan to sustain implementation.

Why it matters: Tuda said a recent cycle of economic-impact measurement found about $66 million in local economic activity associated with arts and culture, including roughly $31.9 million in direct spending by arts organizations and $34.1 million in event-related audience expenditures; the study also attributed about 1,359 full-time-equivalent jobs, $39.4 million in personal income, and $13.2 million in tax revenue to the sector. Commissioners said those figures — and the plan’s focus on coordinated regional investment — strengthen the case for local adoption.

Commissioners asked how long the plan is and whether it was available to the public in print; staff said the draft is currently available online and will be printed for public distribution (for example, at city hall) once final print copies are produced. Tuda said the plan is intended to be a shared framework that recognizes existing local efforts (including the Grass Valley–Nevada City Cultural District) and to position arts and culture as civic infrastructure rather than an amenity.

The vote: Commissioner Harney moved and Commissioner Nicarete seconded the motion to forward the action plan to City Council. A roll-call vote was recorded as “I” by Commissioner Mascll, Commissioner Wilcox Barn, Vice Chair Harney and Chair Negrete; the motion passed. The staff recommendation and the commission’s formal forward recommendation will appear on an upcoming City Council agenda for final consideration.

What’s next: If City Council approves the plan, staff and community partners plan to move into the plan’s implementation phase, including the artist accelerator program and elements of the regional marketing and funding plans mentioned in the presentation. No City Council date was specified during the commission meeting.