Pioneer Center Education

Adam Cates Education & Development Manager

“Arts education is a proven pathway to better test scores, pursuing higher education, volunteering in one’s community, and developing creative and social emotional skills. The Pioneer Center is dedicated to providing dynamic arts education opportunities that also support artists and educators across our region.”

Pioneer Center Youth Programs

• Presented 58 performance programs in elementary schools and public libraries across Reno, Sparks, Carson City, Dayton, Minden, Gardnerville, Fallon, Lovelock, Incline Village, & Zephyr Cove

• In-person artists: Aria 51, Brüka Theatre for Children, In-Tune Tales, Larry Wilson Magic, Nazanin Arastoo Puppet Theatre, Petroglyph, Reno Taiko Tsurunokai. Virtual artists: Boxtales Theatre Company, Molodi

• All PCYP performances are presented free to individual audience members.

• Supported by grants from the Arthur & Mae Orvis Foundation, City of Reno Arts & Culture, National Endowment for the Arts, Nevada Arts Council, Nell J. Redfield Foundation, NV Energy Foundation, and Thelma & Thomas Hart Foundation.

• Served 7,361 children and 1,227 adults, for a total of 8,588 people.

Total number of audience members served per region by Pioneer Center Youth Programs in the 2021-2022 season

Broadway Behind The Curtain

• High school theatre students and educators were invited to observe an hour of the scenic load-in process and participate in Q&As with touring crew and Pioneer Center staff for the Broadway tours of Fiddler on the Roof and Jesus Christ Superstar.

• A combined total of 91 students and educators attended these two events representing Damonte Ranch, Dayton, Incline Village, Long Valley Charter, McQueen, Sage Ridge, and Wooster High Schools.

• This opportunity was provided free to all attendees.

Backstage Educational Outreach

• The Pioneer Center provides facility tours free-of-charge to groups upon request. Tours include insight on the Pioneer Center’s history and how productions come together on our stage, along with exclusive access to nonpublic areas. This season saw groups from Innovations High School and TMCC.

• Incline High School students participated in a “work experience” internship program in Spring 2022. Four special needs students and their teachers assisted House Manager, Dianna Krueger, and Facilities Supervisor, Derek Smith, on a variety of tasks, helping to build resumes and confidence.

School Field Trips

• The Pioneer Center is proud to partner with the Reno Phil and Sierra Nevada Ballet to facilitate matinee performances for elementary school children who are bussed to our venue during the school day.

• In December 2021, Sierra Nevada Ballet presented The Peanutcracker for 2,414 students and teachers.

• In March 2022, the Reno Phil presented their Young People’s Concert for 1,728 students and teachers.