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.
Coming Soon to Switchboard Gallery
Fire + Form: Contemporary Ceramics of El Dorado County will exhibit the work of Cristina Arizmendi, Sigrid Benson, and Katie Morris; three contemporary ceramicists who have molded and shaped the art of ceramics for many years. The exhibition will open on Saturday, February 7, 2026 with an opening reception from 5:00 to 7:00 pm at Switchboard Gallery.
Poetry Out Loud 2026
Poetry Out Loud is coming to Imagination Theater on Thursday, February 5, 2026!
Thursday, February 6, 2025
Doors at 6:30 PM
Competition at 7 PM
Heavenly Gondola Wrap Public Art Project
Arts and Culture El Dorado, in partnership with Vail Resorts, invites professional artists to submit proposals for the Heavenly Gondola Wrap Public Art Project. This opportunity will commission an artist to design original artwork to be applied as a vinyl wrap to a Heavenly gondola cabin.
This project supports efforts to reduce vehicle traffic to Emerald Bay and protect Lake Tahoe by promoting the gondola as an alternative transportation option. In partnership with the League to Save Lake Tahoe, the project seeks artwork that celebrates the lake while encouraging environmental awareness, stewardship, and sustainable access.
El Dorado/Alpine County Creative Economy Town Hall
We had an outstanding turnout for the Creative Economy Town Hall in Placerville. Moderators and panelists included Arts and Culture Executive Director Terry LeMoncheck; Danielle Brazell, Executive Director of California Arts Council; Julie Baker, CEO of California for the Arts and California Arts Advocates; and Jason Jong, Culture and Creative Economy Manager for the City of Sacramento.
Now the community is poised to support arts, culture, and creativity in our region. If you missed the Town Hall, you may register for the Virtual Town Hall on Wednesday, February 4, at 1:00 pm. And you can read the Creative Economy Strategic Plan to learn more about the work being done in this sector.
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
Public Art News
The City of Placerville, in partnership with Arts and Culture El Dorado, is launching a new initiative to grow the city’s cultural landscape by bringing more public art into our community.
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 Restoration
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
Carolyn Cunningham at County Supervisors Chamber
Carolyn Cunningham's work is now being exhibited at the County Supervisors Chamber in Placerville. Her degree in Art Education required instruction and practice in a variety of media, and she has worked in several over the years, including ceramics, fibers, printmaking, watercolor, acrylic, ink, oil, graphite, scratchboard, colored pencil and mixed media. Since retiring in 2014, Carolyn has been working mostly in colored pencil, oil, scratchboard and mixed media. She was a public school art teacher for over 20 years, has taught drawing classes to adults and children, and was involved in several community youth art events where she lived in Southern California. She currently shows her work at Art Studio 360 on Main Street in Placerville.
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 Sue Norman and Lara Gularte will be facilitating new Veteran's Voices Writing Workshop sessions in South Lake Tahoe and Placerville starting in October.
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.
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
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