CITY OF CATHEDRAL CITY
FISCAL YEAR (FY) 2025/2026
COMMUNITY ARTS GRANT PROGRAM
To be considered for funding, a complete application must be submitted by:
• Hard copies - postmarked by April 18, 2025
• Electronic copies - received by 5:00pm on Friday April 18, 2025. • Electronic submittal is preferred.
We are delighted to announce the opening of the application period for the Community Arts Grant Program offered by the City of Cathedral City. This grant aims to support artists and organizations in the creation and implementation of art and art education projects that contribute to the cultural vitality and vibrancy of our community.
The Community Arts Grant Program seeks to fund innovative projects that engage and enrich the community.
We welcome proposals from artists, performers, dancers, authors, poets, musicians, designers, artist collectives, non-profit organizations, governmental, tribal and community groups and any other creative-types who are passionate about using the arts as a means of community beautification, social transformation, cultural appreciation, and civic dialogue. "Art" can be defined in the broadest extent to inc lude art expressed in any medium, including, without limitation, painting, sculpture, photography, lithography and other physical mediums; music, singing, spoken word, and other auditory mediums; plays, films, dance, and other performance medium; literature and poetry, art history and interpretation; clothing and fashions, and cultural expressions. Art education may be provided by any reasonable means that best achieves the purpose set forth above, including, without limitation, classes, lectures, tours, programs, events, festivals, exhibits, performances, writings, films, audio recordings, and similar means. The grant is not intended to fund permanent art pieces or installations.
We encourage artists and organizations from all backgrounds and disciplines to apply for the Community Arts Grant Program and join us in creating inspiring art and cultural experiences that enrich our community. We look forward to receiving your applications and supporting the realization of your creative visions.
APPLICATIONS ARE DUE BY 5:00PM FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2025
Late applications will not be accepted.
Submit application to:
[email protected]
or
City of Cathedral City
68700 Avenida Lalo Guerrero
Cathedral City, CA 92234
Attention: Anne Ambrose, Assistant City Manager/
Public Arts Commission Liaison
BEFORE SUBMITTING: Check each item included in your application package. Ensure all required text fields and applicable boxes are completed. While filling out the application, if additional space is needed, please attach additional pages to the application or include other attachments.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS AND POLICY GUIDELINES
• Applicants must submit a complete application including project proposal, budget, timeline and supporting materials.
• Applicants can be an individual (must complete a W-9), a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, private entity, government, school, or tribal agency.
• Applicants must demonstrate that the activity proposed occurs within the geographical boundaries of the City of Cathedral City.
• Individual/Organizational residency in Cathedral City is not a requirement as long as the proposed project occurs in the City.
• Any activity proposed must be reasonably available to members of the general public. An activity will be considered reasonably available to members of the general public where the activity is open to the general public or is open to members of the public who timely reserve participation in the activity. Space for participants may be limited and the activity may be provided for only a limited time. Activities may be held in the facilities of public entities, non-profit or charitable organizations, and private facilities, provided that attendance of activities must not be limited to members, owners, subscribers or other interest holders in the private facility. Participation in certain activities may be limited to certain members of the general public, such as youths, students, seniors, or other reasonable grouping that does not constitute unlawful discrimination of a protected class. • Grant activities must be completed by June 30, 2026.
• Grant recipients must comply with all grant requirements and reporting obligations.
GRANT APPLICATION CHECKLIST
• Community Art Grant Program Application
• Samples of art/performances/events completed relevant to the proposed project. Include attachments or links to bio’s, social media or websites. Submitted attachments can be no larger than 20mb.
• Letters of support. Optional but encouraged. Include letters of support from community partners, stakeholders, or collaborators endorsing your project and/or confirming their involvement.
APPLICANT INFORMATION:
NAME (INDIVIDUAL OR ORGANIZATION): Cathedral City Senior Center ADDRESS: 37171 W. Buddy Rogers Avenue
CITY: Cathedral City STATE: CA ZIP: 92234
CONTACT PERSON: Victor Ide TITLE: COO
TELEPHONE: 760-321-1548 EMAIL: [email protected] ORGANIZATION PRESIDENT OR CHAIR (IF APPLICABLE): Luz Gonzalez, Chair of the Board of Directors (Legal authority for organization)
IF NON-PROFIT, INCLUDE 501(c)3 number: 95-3618489
PROGRAM / SERVICE / EVENT INFORMATION:
GRANT AMOUNT REQUESTED Minimum $250 Maximum $5,000: $5,000 TOTAL PROGRAM / SERVICE / EVENT/ART COST:
Program/Service/Event Period or Date
Funding must be expended by 6/20/2026)
From: 07/01/2025 To: 06/01/2026
1. Describe How The Requested Funds Will Be Used: (Include artistic concept, intended audience, community engagement strategies. Do you have community partners that will be involved in implementing this project? If so, please list along with their roles).
The funds from the Community Arts Grant Program will be used to deliver 6 specific arts and cultural programs to residents of Cathedral City through our Arts, Culture and Humanities series. Cathedral City Senior Center, through the generous support of Cathedral City Public Arts Commission, has created an audience for the arts, making art accessible to everyone. The specific programs for 2025-2026 include:
1. Chicano Music Concert – On September 20, 2025, we will host a musical concert honoring Hispanic Heritage Month (which is from September 15, 2025 – October 15, 2025). Musician Mark Guerrero, Chicano rock pioneer and historian, and son of the late Lalo Guerrero, will perform. The Lalo Guerrero Documentary will be shown prior to the concert. Lalo Guerrero is known as the Father of Chicano Music and there is a statue of him in the city town square.
2. Ponytails, Chiffon & Shangri-La: Girl Singers of the 1950’s and 1960’s – On October 25, 2025, award- winning performer Francesca Amari will perform a one-woman show featuring the songs of Connie Francis, Lesley Gore, Petula Clark, and more. She will be accompanied by pianist Wayne Abravanel, one of the most sought-after musical directors in the Coachella Valley. This event will be free and open to the public.
3. A Charlie Brown Christmas (adaptation) – The 1964 cartoon / animation holiday classic comes to life at Cathedral City Senior Center where seniors will bring out their inner child. You won’t want to miss this one. This play will be performed at the senior center in December, 2025 and will star our very own members and volunteers. It will be open to the public.
4. Senior Center Book Festival – February, 2026. Starlite Pulp, a publishing company, will once again invite authors to read sections of their books and answer questions. This event will take place shortly after the 29 Palms Book Festival and the famous Bouchercon Festival held in New Orleans this year, which many of these authors attend. The Starlite Pulp Book Festival held earlier this year was very successful and attendees were thrilled to have access to nationally recognized authors. This event will be open to the public and will be held in the Community Room at Cathedral City Library.
5. Talent Show – March, 2026. The members of Cathedral City Senior Center are a talented group and are eager to show it off. Get ready for our Senior Talent Show featuring accomplished actors, singers, musicians, and performers from right here in Cathedral City! They will be competing for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place ribbons and prizes. We will be asking our very own City Council members to be judges. This will be open to the public, asking people to donate a non-perishable food item for our food bank. You won’t want to miss this!
6. Yve Evans Presents – We have created quite an audience for our Yve Evans Presents series. Over the $32,000
past few years, Yve Evans has presented a series of Jazz and Blues concerts, featuring incredible musical talent from right here in Southern California. Yve will bring her Jam session back to Cathedral City Senior Center in April, 2026.
2. Budget: ( Provide a comprehensive budget for your project. Budget should include total grant funds requested, all project expenses including artist fees, materials, installation costs, rentals, advertising, travel costs. Do you have other funding that will be leveraged/used with these funds? If so, please include.) 1) Chicano Music Festival
a) $500 for artist’s fees. Additional funding will be raised to cover additional musicians. 2) Ponytails, Chiffon & Shangri-La
a) $750 for artist’s fees (singer and accompanist)
3) A Charlie Brown Christmas adaptation
a) $2,200 to cover show director/producer, pianist, and production costs. We will raise additional funding to cover royalty expenses.
4) Senior Center Book Festival
a) $350 to cover authors’ fees
5) Senior Talent Show
a) $500 for staging and production costs
6) Yve Evans Presents (Jazz & Blues Series)
a) $700 for artists’ fees
3. Briefly Describe Your/Your Organization’s Background. (Describe your/your organization’s background and experience. Provide examples of any relevant work, images, or links to online portfolios that have relevance to the project being proposed. Describe your/your organization’s capacity to execute the proposed activities.) The Cathedral City Senior Center has been serving the community for over four decades—since 1980— creating spaces for mature adults to meet friends, exercise their minds and bodies, access resources, and give back through volunteerism. We believe that we don’t just age here; we thrive here. We promote healthy living, independence, and wellness by stimulating the body and mind in an open-minded and inclusive environment.
Like the City, we are deeply committed to creating an inclusive and welcoming environment for all community members. We offer robust bilingual programming to ensure our services are accessible to everyone, especially our Hispanic population, which makes up nearly 60% of our community. Our commitment to the Edmundo and Herlinda Carrillo Equity in Aging Outreach Initiative has resulted in almost half of our programming, including our Food Bank services, health and wellness workshops, and arts and cultural activities, being offered in both English and Spanish to eliminate language barriers.
We believe in the power of art to foster creativity and cultivate a sense of belonging among residents. Our initiatives include intergenerational art workshops, such as the Chuperosa Lane mural with the Boys & Girls Club, and cultural events like the Lalo Guerrero documentary with commentary and music by his son, Mark.
Our Yve Evans Presents Jazz Series and our participation in International Jazz Day has put Cathedral City on the global Jazz stage. We also celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month and Cinco de Mayo with cultural celebrations, basket-weaving, knitting, painting, and other art classes throughout the community.
1. Community Engagement: We are building an audience for arts and cultural events in Cathedral City.
Our organization has a strong presence in the community and will actively engage residents in the planning and implementation of our arts and culture programs. We will leverage our relationships with local schools, community centers, and businesses to ensure broad participation and representation.
2. Volunteer Recruitment: We will mobilize volunteers from our network to assist with various aspects of these projects, ensuring that we have the manpower needed to bring these initiatives to life.
3. Promotion and Outreach: Utilizing our communication channels and marketing expertise, we will help promote our arts and cultural events to ensure maximum visibility and attendance. We will also collaborate with local media outlets to generate buzz and excitement around the project, further enhancing its impact and reach.
4. Credibility as a Trusted Source: Four years of listening, offering services person-by-person, offering programs where people live, work, play, and pray, designing programs that are requested, designed, and taught by Spanish speakers, hosting TODEC in our lobby during everyday business hours, and hosting the Mexican Consulate annually has transformed the senior center into a bilingual community center that is nearly half Hispanic and viewed as a trusted source.
5. Strength as an Arts Provider: The arts naturally extend our efforts to keep minds and bodies active, promoting health, independence, and connection through food, fun, and friendship. At Cathedral City Senior Center, we make the arts a part of everyday life. Our mission is to help everyone express themselves creatively, connect with others, and enjoy the benefits of art and culture. We provide accessible and enriching experiences to enhance well-being and foster a sense of community. 4 Timeline: (Provide a timeline outlining key project milestones and activities from conception to completion.)
Chicano Music Concert
1. September 20, 2025 – The music concert and documentary will be held in the Main room at Cathedral City Senior Center
Ponytails, Chiffon & Shangri-La
2. October 25, 2025 – This one-woman show will be performed in the Main Room at Cathedral City Senior Center and open to the public.
A Charlie Brown Christmas adaptation
3. December, 2025 – This play will be open to the public and performed in the Main Room at Cathedral City Senior Center
Senior Center Book Festival
4. February, 2026 – Will be held in the Community Room at Cathedral City Library.
Senior Talent Show
5. This fun show will be held in the Main Room at Cathedral City Senior and open to the public.
Yve Evans Presents
6. This Jazz/Blues concert is open to the public and will be held in the Main Room at Cathedral City Senior Center.
5. What Do You Ultimately Hope To Accomplish Through Your Proposed Art/Program/Event? How Will It Enrich Cathedral City? (Describe your goals and objectives and how many people you hope to impact as a result of your project.)
The arts naturally extend our efforts to keep minds and bodies active, promoting health, independence, and connection through food, fun and friendship. At Cathedral City Senior Center, we make the arts a part of everyday life. Our mission is to help everyone express themselves creatively, connect with others, and enjoy the benefits of art and culture. We provide accessible and enriching experiences to enhance well-being and foster a sense of community.
Goals and Objectives of our Arts, Culture and Humanities Programming at Cathedral City Senior Center:
1. Foster Creative Expression: We will provide opportunities for seniors to engage in various art, music, and literature events and provide a space to foster creative expression.
2. Build Community: We will continue to build on the audience we’ve created for arts programming and create events that bring together different segments of our community, promoting inclusivity and cultural exchange.
3. Enhance Well-Being: We use arts and culture to reduce feelings of isolation and improve mental health
6. If Your Art/Program/Event Costs More Than You Are Requesting From The Community Arts Grant Program, How Do You Plan To Pay For The Additional Costs? ( What Steps Have You Already Taken To Get Additional Funds Or In- Kind Support If Necessary?)
The total budget for our Arts, Cultural & Humanities Programs at Cathedral City Senior Center for 2025-2026 is $32,000. The Richard and Anne Altman Craft Corner at Cathedral City Senior Center is finished and is a wonderful arts space that will fuel our arts programming for years to come.
7. Do You Plan To Continue This Art/Program/Event Beyond The Period For Which You Have Requested The Funds? If So, How Do You Plan To Continue Paying For It? (Describe the types of efforts you will undertake to raise funds as well as your/your organization’s history of maintaining services/programs.) Arts and Cultural programming has become a cornerstone of what we do at Cathedral City Senior Center.
Every year we plan and budget for a series of arts/cultural events that will allow seniors and members of our community to foster creative expression, build community, and enhance their well-being. This becomes part of our fundraising goals for the year from public grants and individual sponsorships.
We fund 95% of our budget through individual donations. In 2019, our budget was just over $200,000; today, it’s $1.8 million. Of that, $100,000 comes from the City to support Cathedral City’s most in-need residents. Our budget has grown each year thanks to strong community support for our programs and seniors.
*Attachments may be included with your submission. If including photos, files can be no larger than 20 mb.
To be considered for funding, a complete application must be submitted by:
• Hard copies - postmarked by Friday, April 18, 2025
• Electronic copies - received by 5:00pm on Friday August 18, 2025 • Electronic submittal is preferred
Questions: Please email [email protected] or call Anne Ambrose, Public Arts Commission Liaison at (760) 770-0331.
(OPTIONAL) Is There Anything That You Would Like To Add? If So, Please Tell Us Here:
8. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to apply for this Community Arts Grant funding. The City of Cathedral City and the Public Arts Commision have been incredible supporters of our mission at Cathedral City Senior Center and we appreciate all you do.
With your generous support, we were able to start the Yve Evans Jazz Series. We look forward to a long and lasting partnership in helping Cathedral City residents explore their creativity.