by Camila De La Mora
Born and raised in Reno, Nevada, Steven Talavera has been going to the Holland Project since he was in middle school. The Holland Project is a community-based arts and music location for all ages, and they provide a place for locals to experience live music and art.
Steven now works at the Holland project as a night manager. He has experienced many great times visiting and working with the Holland project, so much so that he intends to return the favor.
“So the big thing for me is I’m a big believer, whatever you take from something you should, be able to give it back,” he explains.
During his earlier years at university, he spent plenty of time with the Holland project. Meeting many friends and bands. As well as meeting the at the time local band Surf Curse, who now has over 10 million monthly listeners on Spotify.
The community he felt during this time of college definitely stuck with him. That makes becoming a part of the staff at the Holland Project even more important to him.
“To me, being able to be on the inside of it and manage these shows, create a space, make these new memories is like the best thing ever.”
University students frequently face difficulties with their mental health. Sometimes, being away from family or even experiencing existential crisis makes spaces like the Holland, so much more important.
“And it’s really like one of those unique spaces where it’s like, an all-ages space, which you don’t really find a lot of.” Steven shares.
The community is solid. There are events at the Holland Project that allow people to express themselves freely.
“The Holland is one of those places where they really try to foster mobile engagement, especially for the youth.”
There are many opportunities to check out the Holland Project as well as participate, for example, Young Blood.
The Young Blood is an event where people under 21 have the chance to showcase their art in professional galleries. They also have another similar event for music. Allowing bands to play if they have never publicly played before.
Steven experienced some trials and tribulations before finding himself at the Holland Project. He shared one big issue university students usually deal with, major changes. He eventually switched over to journalism.
“And then, I think, my second semester of journalism, that’s when I started getting involved with the Holland. there was like a big correlation between those two because as a whole, like journalism meetings, I interview people and my interest being the venue and local artists and stuff.”
Interestingly, Steven took a journalism media writing course and interviewed the person who, at the time, had his current position. She ended up moving to California and told him he would be an excellent fit for the position.
One of his favorite gigs while working at the Holland project was with the previously mentioned band Surf Curse.
“It was a show that happened while I was still under bookings and stuff, where I was kind of more interacting with the artists beforehand. So yeah, we communicated with the agent and stuff, but that was probably the biggest show we’ve had at the whole venue. Because it was 3000 ish people … .I think, maybe the biggest event we’ve held at the Holland project.”
He is still going strong working at the Holland Project, and creating memories and experiences for university students like him.
