Quality of Life Indicators
expression of culture through the arts data
civic investment funding and grants support for the arts
Nevada Arts Council grants -- updated 7/12/08
National Endowment for the Arts grants -- updated 7/15/08
City of Reno's grant support
other data
civic investment funding and grants support for the arts
The City of Reno, the Nevada Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts make grants to artists and arts organizations as do corporations, private foundations, and individuals. Government grants are the easiest to track on a consistent basis.
Nevada Arts Council grants -- updated 7/12/08
At its May 2008 board meeting, the Nevada Arts Council (NAC) approved 91 grant program awards totaling $409,235 to support statewide arts and cultural activities in Fiscal Year 2009. Another 28 arts organizations will receive $547,780 in FY09 for the second half of their Partners in Excellence -Tier II two-year grants awarded this last year. Mid-year cuts are a “distinct possibility” with the current economy.
Challenge Grants strengthen the long-range financial stability of Nevada’s arts organizations through the support of capital projects such as purchasing of permanent equipment, collection acquisition, building rehabilitation and restoration projects, and establishment of reserve accounts or endowments. Applicants must match these grants 3:1 in new money. Design Arts Grants support community-based projects that focus on design issues through planning. Project Grants support the arts activities of non-arts community organizations and public institutions. Development Grants support new, emerging, and smaller-budget arts organizations in rural and urban Nevada. Partners in Excellence Grants (PIE) support established arts and cultural organizations throughout the state. Grantees in the PIE II category apply for two-year funding every even year.
National Endowment for the Arts grants -- updated 7/15/08
National Endowment for the Arts grants are awarded most often to the Nevada Arts Council and the Nevada Humanities Commission. The following grants have been awarded in the last several years.
City of Reno's grant support
The City of Reno’s grant support for the arts for fiscal years 2006 and again for 2007 included $310,000 in grants across four categories and $270,000 in sponsorships for Artown, Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts, Sierra Arts Foundation, and the Municipal Band: 2006 Arts and Culture brochure
The City of Reno also tracks the percent increase and total funds matched from private sources for arts and culture, steadily increasing since fiscal year 2005. [Source: City of Reno 2007/2008 budget, Section III-228]
other data
Inventory of arts & cultural venues
Although it is not an exhaustive list, Artown’s listing of venues for offers an excellent sampling of places to look for art and cultural events: Artown venues listing
Public art
Great cities are often known for their art. ‘The Picasso’ in Chicago and the ‘Jerusalem Stabile’ by Alexander Calder in New York are city landmarks. Public art is a visible sign of civic support for the arts and culture. This in turn helps attract and retain visitors and new businesses. Since it created the Arts & Culture Commission, the City of Reno has amassed an impressive collection of public art:
Reno public art collection
Historic preservation
Listing a property on the National Register of Historic Places is a rigorous process. Every year, properties and sites in Washoe County are added to the Register. While listing on the register does not provide any official protections to a structure, it does highlight its importance in the cultural life of our community. National Register of Historic Places
Nevada State Register of Historic Places
Preserve Nevada
Preserve Nevada, a statewide organization dedicated to supporting historic preservation. Preserve Nevada releases an annual 11 Most Endangered Places list. The goal of these lists is to bring attention to significant buildings, sites and landscapes that face a threat. Like the national list we hope to gather support for the effort to record and preserve the history of our unique state. Nevadans are proud of their heritage but many of our new residents are unaware of the richness of the state’s past and the threats our historic resources face now and in the future. The following Washoe County sites have made the Most endangered Places listings, including the year placed on the list:
Virginia Street Bridge (2006-2007, 2003)
Hillside Cemetry (2006-2007)
Sprawl-free Landscapes (2006-2007
Bethel A.M.E. Church (2004-2005)
Nevada Ranches (2004-2005)
Reno Masonic Temple (2004-2005)
Nevada Rock Art Sites (2004)
Preserve Nevada also highlights the following success stories:
Riverside Hotel
Fourth Ward School-Virginia City Historic District (Landmark District)
Adams House, Carson City
Libraries
Washoe County Library System is a cultural center, offering lifelong enrichment opportunities through access to ideas, information and the arts and maintains yearly statistics that track increases in the number of adult and children’s programs presented at all 14 libraries as well as program attendance. In addition to the library venues used in 2007 for Artown, additional library galleries include the following:
• Downtown Reno Library Gallery, 301 S. Center St., Reno, NV 89501
• Northwest Reno Library Gallery, 2325 Robb Drive, Reno, NV 89523
• John Ben Snow Memorial Trust Art Gallery, South Valleys Library, 15650A Wedge Parkway, Reno, NV 89511
The Washoe County Library System serves all of northern Nevada through its 15 locations, including partnership libraries at four Washoe County schools, the Senior Center Library, Mobile Library and the Internet Branch Library. The library system’s vision is as follows: We will reach out creatively with innovative services; connect people and resources; and be a destination for discovery.
Our libraries serve as cultural destinations for the community in several ways. They …
• Serve as welcoming cultural centers where people gather to interact and exchange ideas
• Provide relevant materials and resources to satisfy people’s interests in popular, cultural and social trends and recreational experiences
• Provide services and resources to meet a wide variety of everyday informational needs
• Provide learning materials and opportunities for self-directed personal growth and development.
For more information on how the Washoe County Library System impacts our Quality of Life Indicators, Washoe County library resources - literate community indicator
Cultural and arts districts
The City of Reno has one area designated as a cultural district: Reno Arts Commission, Truckee River Arts District: Truckee River Arts District Map
Galleries
Again, we use Artown information as an excellent introduction or sampling of galleries (this is not an exhaustive list): Artown galleries
Independent ethnics restaurants
Reno Magazine has an online restaurant guide listing ethnic restaurants—Asian/Chinese/Indian, International/Eclectic, Italian, Japanese, and Mexican: Restaurant guide
Historic districts
Properties listed in the Register include districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects that are significant in American history, architecture, archeology, engineering, and culture. The National Register is administered by the National Park Service, which is part of the U.S. Department of the Interior: National Register of Historic Places
The Historic Reno Preservation Society offers the following walking or virtual tours:
o University of Nevada, Reno
o Barns of Northern Nevada
o Frederic De Longchamps
o Mansions on the Bluff
o River Walk and Little Italy
o Wells Avenue Neighborhood
o Newlands Neighborhood
o Lake Addition
o Bricks & Stones
o El Reno Apartment Homes
Number of arts & cultural organizations & activities per capita
The Nevada Arts Council has links to the following arts organizations in northern Nevada:
o Brewery Arts Center
o Capital City Arts Initiative
o Carson City Arts Coalition
o Carson City Symphony
o Carson Valley Arts Council
o Churchill Arts Council Online
o KNPR
o Lake Tahoe Classic Guitar Society
o Nevada’s Arts Advocates
o Nevada Department of Education
o Nevada Humanities Committee
o Nevada Museum of Art
o Nevada Opera
o Nevada Shakespeare Festival
o Reno Chamber Orchestra
o Reno Little Theater
o Reno Philharmonic
o Sierra Arts Foundation
o St. Mary’s Art Center
o Theater Coalition
o VSA arts of Nevada (VSAN)
The Sierra Arts Foundation also maintains an arts organization registry.