CNL Member since 2003
Founded: 1990
Visit Website: minersfoundry.org
Facebook: Facebook.com/minersfoundry
Instagram: Instagram.com/minersfoundry
Twitter: #minersfoundry
Email: Gretchen Bond, Executive Director –gretchen@minersfoundry.org
Mission & Purpose: The mission of Miners Foundry is to preserve, enhance and use the historic Miners Foundry in Nevada City, CA, to promote historic, cultural, social, and educational activities in our community and region.
For 160 years, the Miners Foundry has served as an arts and cultural hub for creativity and community vitality, along with the birthplace of invention and innovation. The Miners Foundry connects people to rich cultural experiences with the more than 50,000 attendees and 400 events hosted each year. These events range from weddings to non-profit fundraisers, live music to theatrical readings and productions, craft fairs to film festivals, conferences to spelling bees, and so much more. It all happens under one roof at the Miners Foundry! We are here to celebrate our community by providing a safe and welcoming place for our community to gather, create and celebrate!
Success Story: Miners Foundry makes a significant contribution to both local Nevada County society & culture, and to the economy of the surrounding region. Our 400 events per year, with sometimes two or events per day, occur in 9000 square feet of space broken into multiple spaces. Frequently, people travel from across the state to attend an event at the Foundry. They stay in local hotels and B&B’s, eat in local restaurants and purchase items from both local vendors and the community as a whole. Nearly 40 weddings occur at the Foundry annually.
In 2018, we introduced the The Foundry Sings. Rod Baggett, choral conductor at Nevada Union High School and Seven Hills Middle School, along with singer/multi-instrumentalist Jonathan Meredith, gathered people of all ages and experience to sing at the Foundry. The evening culminated in the performance of a popular song, filmed for archive use. Nearly 1000 people attended the five Foundry Sings. The event continues in 2019.
How CNL has helped our organization: CNL has benefited Miners Foundry staff and community through board education workshops, financial workshops, executive director/board president training, and executive director seminars.
How to get involved: People can get involved with the Miners Foundry by volunteering during one of our many events, becoming a member of the Foundry, a donor, business sponsor, and/or serve on our Board of Directors. Individuals can join our Historical Committee to help with the creation of new interpretive signs and displays, archive oral history stories, and curate historic photos and other important documents.