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Great Basin Arts and Entertainment is a Nevada
501(c)(3) organization formed in 1997. The organization's history
reaches back to 1992 when a small group of friends met to determine how
they might keep culture alive in Winnemucca following the massive arson
fire that swept the historic Nixon Opera House. That historic
building, a gift from Nevada Senator George S. Nixon, had been the center
of Winnemucca's cultural life since it was constructed in 1907.
This small group of volunteers,
driven by their love of live music
and the performing arts, started finding and promoting a series
of events utilizing the high school gym, school auditoriums, the
facilities at the Winnemucca Convention Center, any place available,
until it found a cozy home in the banquet room facilities in the
historic Martin Hotel.
GBAE events are promoted in the
manner of now widely popular
house concerts. A group of dedicated volunteers still does all the
leg work to
locate a wide variety of interesting performers and artists, make all the
arrangements necessary to schedule their performances, create, produce and distribute the marketing materials to promote the event,
then print and distribute the tickets. Just before each event a
small army of people show up to set up the stage, the sound system,
seating, and lighting.
Prices, on the highly sought after
tickets, are kept low to allow
anyone with a love of music the opportunity to attend.
Performers are generally paid 100% of the gate along with a great meal at
the Martin Hotel and complementary rooms provided by a local hotel. Funds needed to pay for supplies consumed
by the promotional materials, marketing and ticket production are
raised through an ongoing raffle at each performance with occasional
assistance provided by local businesses that support the
efforts of the volunteers.
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