The Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts is thrilled to announce the Golden Encore program, an innovative outreach initiative designed to bring exceptional entertainment and enriching lifelong learning opportunities directly to senior citizens in our community. Golden Encore extends the Pioneer Center’s commitment beyond its Reno venue, reaching seniors where they live, congregate, and receive care. This includes senior centers, assisted living facilities, residential communities, memory care facilities, and public libraries, ensuring accessibility for all.
Driven by a deep understanding of the challenges faced by seniors in our region, the Pioneer Center developed Golden Encore in response to concerning local data. A March 2022 report from the HELLO Project, Truckee Meadows Tomorrow, and UNR highlighted significant issues: over 76% of seniors reported feelings of isolation and being left out, with a similar percentage experiencing barriers to community participation. Alarmingly, the study also revealed that the suicide rate among seniors in Washoe County is double the national average. Recognizing these critical needs and the proven health benefits of engaging with the arts, the Pioneer Center conceived Golden Encore to tangibly improve the quality of life for our senior community.
Golden Encore programs feature a diverse roster of professional performing artists who deliver engaging performances filled with music, movement, historical insights, and nostalgic journeys down memory lane. Each program is carefully curated, incorporating expert-endorsed components known to positively impact the mental and physical well-being of seniors. Through research-backed approaches and specialized group training, Golden Encore ensures that each session is both entertaining and beneficial, contributing to the overall wellness of participants.
The Golden Encore program is made possible through the generous support of the Washoe County Community Reinvestment Grant Program, alongside contributions from community partners. This crucial funding enables the Pioneer Center to extend its artistic and educational resources to a wider audience, fostering community connection and combating senior isolation through the power of the arts.
Upcoming Golden Encore Performances:
- Erika Paul & David Aller Duo: “The Great American Songbook and Its Prolific and Timeless Composers” – Downtown Reno Library, Tuesday, June 10, 2025, 3:00pm
- Kantu Inka: Sierra Manor Apartments, Thursday, March 27, 2025, 2:00pm & Thursday, June 24, 2025, 2:00pm
- Karen Burns: “Hello Hollywood, Hello!: When Hollywood Came to Reno” – Incline Village Library, Wednesday, March 26, 2025, 3:30pm & Sierra Manor Apartments, Wednesday, April 30, 2025, 2:00pm
- Heather Boni Lemmons: “Choreography Café” – South Valleys Library, Tuesday, April 29, 2025, 4:00pm & Incline Village Library, Wednesday, June 11, 2025, 3:30pm
- Retro Radio Dolls: “Songs We Love To Sing” – South Valleys Library, Sunday, March 30, 2025, 2:00pm, North Valleys Library, Saturday, April 26, 20205, 11:00am, & Sierra Manor Apartments, Saturday, May 17, 2025, 2:00pm
To discover more about the talented Golden Encore artists and how your senior-serving venue can participate in this enriching program, we encourage you to explore our brochure or contact us directly at [email protected]. The Pioneer Center is dedicated to making the arts accessible to all members of our community, and Golden Encore is a testament to this enduring commitment. Join us in bringing the joy of performance and lifelong learning to the seniors of Reno and Washoe County.
