WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP
Eliza Tudor
Executive Director , Nevada County Arts Council
by Vanessa Labi
There ’ s no doubt Eliza Tudor is enamored with the arts : “ I love nature , travel , poetry and music — in all their eclectic forms ,” she says . Although originally from England , Tudor has just the artistic spirit and thoughtful disposition to match Nevada City ’ s eclectic essence . But most of all she appreciates art as a tool for health and wellness . As executive director of Nevada County Arts Council for the last six years , she ’ s worked to improve community well-being by creating arts programs that partner across creative , public , business and nonprofit sectors .
“ Our role is to facilitate these ( programs ), making it possible for a delicate ecosystem of social programming to thrive ,” she says . “ This has been particularly true during a pandemic that has crippled our sector , while simultaneously throwing light on its immense value .”
The value of art is something Tudor and her small staff are deeply committed to promoting both economically and socially . Together with a board of directors and independent contractors , they dream up change for the twin cities of Grass Valley and Nevada City .
Last year , the organization employed nearly 50 artists and creative workers to implement multiple education programs , a poetry and film festival , a major concert in service to its artist relief fund , and the largest creative placemaking project the region has seen , “ FOREST FIRE .” The latter , a show on display in Truckee , moves through time to tell the story of forest ecology and how wildfires affect the lives of Californians . ( The lines in the show ’ s title signify a desired equilibrium .)
“ Listening comes first , then a genuine desire to move the needle , support community agendas , and therefore create a rising tide that lifts all boats .”
Another more humanistic equilibrium Tudor and team are committed to restoring is cultural equity , particularly the recognition of Nevada County ’ s Indigenous peoples . The council partners with the Nisenan tribe to encourage land acknowledgment and raise funds in support of initiatives that empower them .
The Nevada County Arts Council also helps map their culture , Tudor says , an overdue recognition of the tribe ’ s historical influence . The enterprise involves taking inventory of the tribe ’ s cultural assets and creating a map of the sacred places the tribes feel comfortable sharing . “ These efforts are deeply rewarding ,” Tudor says .
Tudor ’ s professional life has spanned three continents : Europe , Australia and North America . Prior to Nevada County Arts Council , she was senior development executive of humanities at University of Oxford , where she previously earned her master ’ s degree in Arts and Cultural Policy ( intellectual history ). While working at her alma mater , her focus was on scholarship funding for its lowest-income students .
The art lover ’ s globetrotting is as personal as it is professional . She met her husband , Carlos Caruncho , a Spanish teacher and natural winemaker , about 30 years ago when she was living in Australia and visiting California as a guest producer for an ancient Greek play . “ We fell in love and , three children later , we moved to Europe ,” she says . The family returned to Nevada County in 2015 when Caruncho started to miss the Golden State . Tudor landed first at Yuba Sutter Arts and before settling into her role at Nevada County Arts Council .
Among her proudest moments there is the 2017 state designation of Nevada County as one of only 14 inaugural California Cultural Districts . The accomplishment resonates for Tudor as her team surmounted the challenge of Grass Valley and Nevada City “ historically not collaborating to their fullest potential .” She adds , “ At the same time , we helped … engage our High Sierra community towards a further designation for Truckee .” A self-described introvert , Tudor ’ s strength is channeled through her ability to provide “ a creative space for more people to contribute in group settings .” The director aims for equity in all things , an ethos that extends to her leadership style . “ Listening comes first , then a genuine desire to move the needle , support community agendas , and therefore create a rising tide that lifts all boats .”
Vanessa Labi is assistant editor of Comstock ’ s and an arts writer . She writes narrative essays and gives cultural recommendations in her newsletter , The Vessel ( VanessaLabi . Substack . com ). See her work at Vanessa-Labi . com . On Instagram @ Vanessa . Labi .
62 comstocksmag . com | March 2022