"As the sun colors flowers, so does art color life." ~John Lubbock

For more than 30 years, the Amador County Arts Council has worked as a non-profit public benefit organization to nurture the cultural vitality of our area. An unusually large number of professional visual and performing artists make their home here. The arts of Amador are a resource that contributes to our economy, much like water, timber, wine and tourism.  Our organization strives to protect and develop this resource by creating programs and events that promote the arts in our community and schools. AmadorArts works to provide a variety of opportunities to experience all forms of art, music, entertainment and culture throughout the Sierra foothill and gold country region, including: Sutter Creek, Jackson, Plymouth, and the nearby Shenandoah Valley. 

PURPOSE: The purpose of AmadorArts is to be the catalyst for the arts by acting as a central dispenser of any federal, state, or private monies to county artists and arts organization; by developing programs to enhance the arts in the county; by stimulating the economic environment so as to promote county arts and artists; by establishing and maintaining relationships with local, regional, and national arts organizations; and by operating as a liaison between the Amador County Board of Supervisors and the arts community.

MISSION:  To Encourage, Support and Promote the Arts in Our Schools and Community.

Goal #1: Develop programs which are opportunities for all citizens to experience the arts
Goal #2:  Increase visibility of AmadorArts and promote the value of the arts
Goal #3:  Operate under sound management and be financially solvent
Goal #4:  Network with others to provide mutual services and information that relate to the arts
Goal #5:  Create an indoor Performing Arts Center that could double as a multi-purpose Community Resource Center

The Amador County Arts Council is a nonprofit organization operating in the public interest under 501(C)-3 of the IRS code.

2012 Amador County Arts Council

Executive Board

Executive Director
Terra Easton Forgette

President
DeDe Ryan Doran, Sutter Creek
Vice President
Christie Lane, Amador City
Secretary
Cindy Cass, Sutter Creek
Treasurer
Susan Kendall, Drytown

Board of Directors

Millie Butler, Jackson
Linda Rianda, Sutter Creek
Sharon Galligan, Jackson
Gale Fairbrother, Sutter Creek
Sue Lagomarsino, Sutter Creek
Kelly Langelier, Pioneer
Diane Olsen, Sutter Creek
Chuck Swiderski, Volcano
Nan Muzinich, Mt. Akum

Honorary Directors

Jim Guidi - KVGC HomeTown Radio
Jack Mitchel - Amador Ledger Dispatch

Event Coordinator
Sue Duncan

Director of Fund Development
Penny West

2011 Year In Review

With your help we have been able to further AmadorArts’ mission of Encouraging, Supporting and Promoting the Arts in our schools and community.

Arts in Education  -- “The best kept secret to student success.”  The Arts help kids succeed in school because it improves their ability to learn in other subject areas, increases their self-esteem, and often is the “hook” that keeps them motivated.

• Professional artists in the Schools – age-relevant, Standards-based, in-depth classroom instruction—in all eleven 3rd grade classrooms in 2011.
• Artists Scholarships – presented annually in May to qualified graduating seniors studying the arts at the college level—three $1,000 scholarships in 2011. 
• A Taste of the Arts – a day of workshops for teens and adults—new in 2011.
• Mini-Grants for other arts-related non-profits, such as the Amador Schools Arts Foundation, to bring the arts to schools.

Arts Networking --Mixer for the Arts bringing everyone together – artists and the community.  Guests mingle while enjoying complimentary appetizers and a no-host wine bar. Held quarterly at different venues, highlighting various art forms. 

Winter/Spring Music Series—Free monthly concerts held in Teresa’s Banquet Room.

Amador County Fair Window – on-going participation to spotlight the local art scene.

TGIF Summer Music Series—Free, on Fridays all summer throughout the county.

Jazzin’ It Up in Jackson –Free--art, music, food and wine event on Main St. First year—huge success, thanks to generous sponsors and the “fun factor.”

Winefest – 13th Annual—this much-loved event saw more people than ever before enjoying wine tasting in 27 shops.

Patron of the Arts – to honor exceptional work in the arts, in 2011 this was awarded to Adam Gottstein and Millie Butler.

Recipient of Grants –in 2011, from the California Arts Council, Jackson Rancheria, and the City of Jackson.

Strategic Plan – Developed in 2011 with five goals to guide us until 2014.

AmadorArts Gallery – a store front secured in December, at 148 Main Street, Jackson, opening in Spring, 2012.