Plumas County Arts Commission

ARTS EDUCATION: Our Plumas Arts Education programs have been supported by: school site councils and PTAs, the Plumas County Office of Education and Plumas Unified School District, and a three year cycle of California Arts Council Local Arts Education Partnership Grants. In 1999 the effort was one of only 15 programs to be funded statewide by the State Office of Education ART WORKS Visual & Performing Arts Program. From 2000 to 2002 our art education programs were selected as one of only 35 recipients statewide, and one of only 4 in Northern California to be determined as a California Arts Council Arts in Education Demonstration Site.Artist in the Schools Program provides hands-on artist workshops in every county K-6 classroom. School Arts Assembly Programs are often offered to county schools, often in conjunction with the Town Hall Theatre Artist Series performing arts presentations. The program currently operates with a CAC Artist in the Schools grant matched with funds from the Plumas County Office of Education and school site supporting groups and formerly the Bill Graham and now the High Sierra Music Foundations. All County Jazz Night brings all the high school jazz bands to play for a very enthusiastic full house at the Town Hall Theatre. Music instructors tell us that this is the only time that all the high school bands play together - on a real stage with lights when they are not in competition with each other.

CULTURAL FESTIVALS AND EVENTS: Plumas Arts produces Taste of Plumas each April. Always a "sold-out" successful event, we bring 20+ culinary businesses from all parts of the county together in one place. Restaurants and business owners come willingly to take part in this festive gathering that has helped to promote their culinary artistry to discretionary diners across and beyond county and community boundaries.Plumas Arts has managed one of Northern California's oldest and most respected exhibitions of fine arts and crafts, the Almanor Art Show since 1983. It takes place the first weekend in August and showcases a variety of types of art by 100 artists from around the Western US.Mountain Harvest Festival, in October, is a community music and beer tasting event that attracts an impressive collection of microbreweries from throughout the Western US and beyond. The event, which has received generous coverage in VIA magazine and other regional media, attracts people from near and far to enjoy our glorious Fall Colors and community feel.SUPPORTING EVENTS WITH PARTNERSHIPSPlumas Arts assists our partner events producers with many of Plumas County's most significant events by providing promotional and/or production support:A Few Brews & A Banjo in Chester (June) is a volunteer-driven event the provides funding for Chester High School music, drama programs and visual art programs.High Sierra Music Festival at the Plumas-Sierra County Fairgrounds over the 4th of July weekend.Portola Park Summer Concerts funded by the City of Portola and the Lost Sierra Chamber of Commerce.Sierra Valley Art & Ag Trail each Fall

PERFORMING ARTS PRESENTATIONS:Town Hall Theatre Artist Series brings an impressive array of internationally renowned artists to local audiences. Many of these artists have regional or national fan bases that are choosing to travel to our area from some distances to see their favorite musicians in an intimate setting. An estimated 10-20% of our audience comes from out of the county with overnight, or longer, stays in conjunction with their attendance at our performances. On concert nights restaurants also report record business.Words & Music came to life at Quincy's Morning Thunder in Quincy in 1989 with a Plumas Arts grant from the California Arts Council. This monthly (dark July to September) poetry and acoustic music series with an open mic section has also found homes in Chester and Portola. The program serves to coalesce cultural community enclaves and has been reproduced by neighboring arts councils.Plumas Arts and local music education business Face the Music sponsor an annual concert by the High Sierra Community & Youth Orchestra: Plumas County's first orchestra with as many as 45 musicians of all ages playing together on violin, viola, cello, bass, flute, woodwinds, brass and percussion.