Arts and Culture El Dorado’s mission to promote, connect, and empower arts and culture throughout the county is achieved by targeted programs and services; a vibrant gallery exhibition series; and a focus on initiatives which support and sustain the cultural life of the region.
Get ready to have a blast at Arts and Culture El Dorado's Annual Fundraiser!
It’s time for Arts and Culture El Dorado’s annual fundraiser, and this year promises to be the most memorable yet!
On Saturday, October 3, we invite the community to the Placerville Airport for a wonderful evening of great food, wine, and music. Vintage and classic planes will be lined up, and the pilots will be joining us to show off their aircraft. We will open the VIP Hangar for our patrons to enjoy cocktails and appetizers, a short program, and a special performance by Sacramento-based Bad Cat. Get ready for classic rock and blues with a California delta fusion sound in the house!
El Dorado County Poet Laureate Receives Prestigious Fellowship
Moira Magneson Honored by Academy of American Poets
The Academy of American Poets has announced that it will award $50,000 to El Dorado County Poet Laureate Moira Magneson as part of its 2026 Poet Laureate Fellowship Program. The program will honor twenty-two poets serving as Poets Laureate in cities, counties, states, and Tribal communities across the United States.
Magneson’s winning proposal, “Wisdom of Watersheds”, will engage students at El Dorado County’s Mountainside Middle College High School in a months-long exploration of the Upper American and Cosumnes River watersheds.
Currently at Switchboard Gallery
Rubicon Rising explores the history and cultural significance of the Rubicon Trail, one of the most famous off-road routes in the world. Through photographs, stories, and artifacts, it reveals how generations of adventurers, local communities, and conservation efforts have shaped this rugged Sierra Nevada landscape. The exhibition runs from June 8 to August 16, 2026 at Switchboard Gallery, located at 525 Main Street Placerville. The gallery is open Monday-Friday 11-4 and Saturday-Sunday 12-4.
Young Artist Awards 2026
In 2019 and 2020, El Dorado County lost four beloved members of its community: Richard H. Bush, Lanny Langston, Joey Cattone, and Jane Van Camp. In their memory, and as a way of celebrating their impact and their legacies, Arts and Culture El Dorado created the Young Artist Awards, which honor juniors and seniors at El Dorado County high schools in four categories: Music, Theatre, Visual Art, and Nature-inspired Art. The recipients of these awards also receive $500. A reception for the families, students, and nominating teachers was held at Arts and Culture El Dorado’s Switchboard Gallery on Thursday, April 30.
Heavenly Gondola Wrap Public Art Project
Arts and Culture El Dorado, in partnership with Vail Resorts, is currently in the selection phase for the Heavenly Gondola Wrap Public Art Project. The project will commission an artist to create original artwork for a vinyl wrap on a Heavenly gondola cabin, promoting sustainable access to Emerald Bay and stewardship of Lake Tahoe in partnership with the League to Save Lake Tahoe.
The City of Placerville and Arts and Culture El Dorado are growing public art in Placerville. Guided by the Placerville Public Art Master Plan, the Public Art Committee reviews and recommends projects that reflect diverse artistic disciplines and support community involvement.
Arts99 Now Available Digitally
The Fall Issue of ARTS 99 is Here!
Featured in this issue:
El Dorado Irrigation District’s Centennial
Public Art in the Meyers Roundabouts
Chemistry and Alchemy in Cameron Park
Moira Magneson, El Dorado County Poet Laureate
Program Support and Benefit Supporters
Arts and Culture El Dorado, in partnership with El Dorado County and Caltrans, is leading a public art initiative for the roundabouts in Meyers at the gateway to South Lake Tahoe.
Confidence Hall and the Emigrant Jane Stuart Renovation
Renovating for the future...
With the signing of a fundraising agreement between the City of Placerville and Arts and Culture El Dorado, the process of restoring two historic buildings on Placerville’s Main Street has begun
Poet Laureate of El Dorado County 2025-2027
Over the years, Moira Magneson has worked as a river guide, artist's model, truck driver, television writer, editor, and community college writing instructor. A Northern California native, she lives in the Sierra foothills where she has spearheaded many art actions and initiatives, including El Dorado County's Poetry Out Loud Competition, Veterans' Voices, Barbaric Yawp, and Black Lives: An American Overture.
Veterans' Voices Writing Workshop
Arts and Culture El Dorado is pleased to announce that Lara Gularte is now facilitating new Veteran's Voices Writing Workshop sessions at Switchboard Gallery.
Veterans' Voices is a free writing workshop that is open to all veterans, from any branch of service. It offers a supportive environment and the tools needed for the writing of fiction and nonfiction stories, service related or not, as well as memoir, poetry and drama. Newcomers are always welcome.
New Incubator Partners
arteSana is dedicated to creating welcoming spaces for the original peoples, residents, and guests of the El Dorado County region to practice diverse contemporary folk art traditions in a nurturing, multilingual context. Click to read more.
The Become the River Literary Festival of Coloma brings together writers and environmental advocates to explore voices shaped by their connection to rivers and watersheds in both written and spoken word. Click here to read more.
Celebrating Shingle Springs heritage by raising funds and installing a "Welcome to Shingle Springs" monument sign. Click to read more.
This live musical performance and historically-based play features sing-along Gold Rush songs, storytelling, and humor. Click to read more.
Artist Anton Nemeth at his ceramics bench
Pine needle basket by artist Nettie Fox
Poetry Out Loud contestant Michaela Yack
Support Arts and Culture El Dorado!
Your tax deductible contribution helps support the arts community in El Dorado County.