July Partner of the Month

Founded in 1971, Sierra Arts Foundation is a regional nonprofit arts organization dedicated to unifying, inspiring, elevating, and giving voice to the arts and humanities throughout Northern Nevada. For more than five decades, Sierra Arts has worked in partnership with local municipalities, cultural organizations, educators, artists, and community leaders to foster a collaborative and vibrant arts ecosystem that enriches the region’s quality of life.

Recognizing early on that arts education is essential to both individual and community success, Sierra Arts made educational programming a cornerstone of its mission. Today, the organization advances its work through community-driven programs, arts education, arts integration, artist services, professional development, and cultural engagement opportunities that strengthen connections between the arts and the communities they serve.

In 2000, Sierra Arts partnered with Artspace to acquire and revitalize the historic six-story Riverside Building in downtown Reno. The project transformed the former hotel into affordable live/work spaces for artists, while also creating gallery and office space that continues to serve as a hub for creativity, collaboration, and cultural engagement. Sierra Arts also operates the Depot Gallery & Bookstore in downtown Sparks and manages artist studio spaces and the Academy Training Studio at 1995 Dickerson Road in Reno.

Serving artists across the visual, performing, and literary arts, Sierra Arts provides exhibition and performance opportunities, professional development, artist services, and advocacy that help strengthen Northern Nevada’s creative economy. The organization also offers ongoing training and professional learning opportunities for both artists and educators, supporting artistic growth, innovation, and lifelong learning throughout the region.

Access to high-quality arts education is a critical component of student success. Research consistently demonstrates that arts learning enhances academic achievement, attendance, critical thinking, creativity, communication, and social-emotional development. Yet many elementary school students throughout Washoe County have limited access to consistent, standards-based arts instruction. Sierra Arts helps address this need by bringing professional teaching artists and arts-integrated learning experiences directly into classrooms, providing students with opportunities to develop the creative and critical-thinking skills that support achievement in school and beyond.

Arts education also plays an important role in preparing students for future STEM and STEAM career pathways. By cultivating innovation, collaboration, problem-solving, communication, and design thinking, arts learning complements traditional academic subjects and helps students build the adaptable skills increasingly valued in today’s workforce. These experiences encourage students to explore new ideas, develop confidence in their abilities, and envision future educational and career opportunities.

Sierra Arts is especially grateful for the continued support of the Nell J. Redfield Foundation, whose investment in the Redfield Community Outreach Program provides underserved students in ten Washoe County elementary schools with access to high-quality, standards-based arts education. Through this partnership, students engage in meaningful arts learning experiences that foster creativity, strengthen academic performance, improve classroom engagement and attendance, and inspire lifelong learning. The Foundation’s commitment to expanding educational opportunities ensures that more children can experience the transformative benefits of the arts, regardless of circumstance or background.

The enduring partnership between the Nell J. Redfield Foundation and Sierra Arts Foundation reflects a shared commitment to education, creativity, and community well-being. Together, we are helping cultivate the next generation of creative thinkers, problem-solvers, artists, and leaders while ensuring that arts education remains an essential part of a thriving Northern Nevada community.