CITY OF CATHEDRAL CITY
FISCAL YEAR (FY) 2025/2026
COMMUNITY ARTS GRANT PROGRAM
To be considered for funding, a complete applicaMon must be submiNed by:
• Hard copies - postmarked by April 18, 2025
• Electronic copies - received by 5:00pm on Friday April 18, 2025. • Electronic submiNal is preferred.
BEFORE SUBMITTING: C h e c k each item included in your applica3on package. Ensure all required text fields and applicable boxes are completed. While filling out the applica3on, if addi3onal space is needed, please a?ach addi3onal pages to the applica3on or include other a?achments.
We are delighted to announce the opening of the applica3on period for the Community Arts Grant Program offered by the City of Cathedral City. This grant aims to support ar3sts and organiza3ons in the crea3on and implementa3on of art and art educa3on projects that contribute to the cultural vitality and vibrancy of our community.
The Community Arts Grant Program seeks to fund innova3ve projects that engage and enrich the community.
We welcome proposals from ar 3sts, performers, dancers, authors, poets, musicians, designers, ar 3st collec3ves, non-profit organiza3ons, governmental, tribal and community groups and any other crea3ve-types who are passionate about using the arts as a means of community beau 3fica3on, social transforma3on, cultural apprecia3on, and civic dialogue. "Art" can be defined in the broadest extent to include art expressed in any medium, including, without limita3on, pain3ng, 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 interpreta3on; clothing and fashions, and cultural expressions. Art educa3on may be provided by any reasonable means that best achieves the purpose set forth above, including, without limita 3on, classes, lectures, tours, programs, events, fes 3vals, exhibits, performances, wri3ngs, films, audio recordings, and similar means. The grant is not intended to fund permanent art pieces or installa3ons.
We encourage ar3sts and organiza3ons from all backgrounds and disciplines to apply for the Community Arts Grant Program and join us in crea3ng inspiring art and cultural experiences that enrich our community. We look forward to receiving your applica3ons and suppor3ng the realiza3on of your crea3ve visions.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS AND POLICY GUIDELINES
•Applicants must submit a complete applica3on including project proposal, budget, 3meline and suppor3ng materials.
•Applicants c a n b e a n i n d i v i d u a l ( m u s t c o m p l e t e a W - 9 ) , a non-profit 501(c)(3) organiza3on, private en3ty, government, school, or tribal agency.
•Applicants must demonstrate that the ac3vity proposed occurs within the geographical boundaries of the City of Cathedral City.
•Individual/Organiza3onal residency in Cathedral City is not a requirement as long as the proposed project occurs in the City.
•Any ac3vity proposed must be reasonably available to members of the general public. An ac3vity will be considered reasonably available to members of the general public where the ac 3vity is open to the general public or is open to members of the public who 3mely reserve par3cipa3on in the ac3vity. Space for par3cipants may be limited and the ac3vity may be provided for only a limited 3me. Ac3vi3es may be held in the facili3es of public en33es, non-profit or charitable organiza3ons, and private facili3es, provided that a?endance of ac3vi3es must not be limited to members, owners, subscribers or other interest holders in the private facility. Par 3cipa3on in certain ac3vi3es may be limited to certain members of the general public, such as youths, students, seniors, or other reasonable grouping that does not cons3tute unlawful discrimina3on of a protected class.
•Grant ac3vi3es must be completed by June 30, 2026.
•Grant recipients must comply with all grant requirements and repor3ng obliga3ons.
GRANT APPLICATION CHECKLIST
• Community Art Grant Program Applica3on
• Samples of art/performances/events completed relevant to the proposed project. Include a?achments or links to bio’s, social media or websites. Submi?ed a?achments can be no larger than 20mb.
• Le?ers of support. Op3onal but encouraged. Include le?ers of support from community partners, stakeholders, or collaborators endorsing your project and/or confirming their involvement.
APPLICANT INFORMATION:
NAME (INDIVIDUAL OR ORGANIZATION): Sue Casa & CULT AND CLASSIC FILMS LLC ADDRESS: 69325 35th Ave.
CITY: Cathedral City STATE: CA ZIP: 92234
CONTACT PERSON: Nate Wyckoff TITLE: CEO, Cult and Classic Films LLC TELEPHONE: 805-358-3247 EMAIL: info@cultandclassicfilms.co m
ORGANIZATION PRESIDENT OR CHAIR (IF APPLICABLE): Sue Casa (Kyle Celio) – Individual; (Legal authority for organizaMon) Nathan Wyckoff – CEO, CULT AND CLASSIC FILMS LLC IF NON-PROFIT, INCLUDE 501(c)3 number: n/a
PROGRAM / SERVICE / EVENT INFORMATION:
GRANT AMOUNT REQUESTED Minimum $250 Maximum $5,000: $5000 TOTAL PROGRAM / SERVICE / EVENT/ART COST: $5000
Program/Service/Event Period or Date
Funding must be expended by 6/20/2026)
From:A date in November
2025 (TBD)
To: A date in
November
2025 (TBD)
1. Describe How The Requested Funds Will Be Used: (Include ar3s3c concept, intended audience, community engagement strategies. Do you have community partners that will be involved in implemen3ng this project? If so, please list along with their roles).
The event, given the working 3tle “Queer Qlassics: A Drag & Film Experience,” will combine the crea3ve ar3stry of area drag performers with a screening of a film cherished by Queer culture. Tied together thema3cally with the chosen film, the event will begin with a narra3ve drag show featuring mul3ple performers, followed by an introduc3on to the movie by film cri3c and historian Nate Wyckoff (host of the Cult and Classic Films podcast).
The event will then end with a full length screening of the chosen mo3on picture. The film in ques3on will be chosen from iconic movies such as Dolly Parton’s “9 to 5,” Be?e Midler and Lily Tomlin’s “Big Business,” and many other beloved 80’s and 90’s films.
The intended audience for this event includes film lovers, lovers of drag and the performing arts, and those intending to introduce friends and loved ones to their most beloved films. As shown by a?endance to the area’s Mary Pickford theater, CV Rep, and many drag shows, the people of Cathedral City love live performance and classic camp cinema, which will be expertly combined in “Queer Qlassics: A Drag & Film Experience.” What’s more, by combining the art forms of film and drag together, this event will introduce art lovers within the community to new mediums that they can experience, fall in love with, and enjoy in the community beyond the confines of the event.
2. Budget: (Provide a comprehensive budget for your project. Budget should include total grant funds requested, all project expenses including ar3st fees, materials, installa3on costs, rentals, adver3sing, travel costs. Do you have other funding that will be leveraged/used with these funds? If so, please include.) •$2500 - Theater Rental and Film Licensing
•$1000 - Materials & Performer Fees (MulMple Drag Performers, Costumes, Props, and MCs) •$1000 - MarkeMng & ANendee Materials
•$500 - Travel, Rehearsals, & Incidentals
These funds will allow for the event to be organized smoothly, professionally, and help lay the groundwork for the future con3nua3on of the series for the community (to be further elaborated in Sec3on 4).
3. Briefly Describe Your/Your OrganizaMon’s Background. (Describe your/your organiza3on’s background and experience. Provide examples of any relevant work, images, or links to online porqolios that have relevance to the project being proposed. Describe your/your organiza3on’s capacity to execute the proposed ac3vi3es.) This proposed event and future series will be produced by Cathedral City’s reigning queen Sue Casa, as well as area ethical film distributor and event organizer CULT AND CLASSIC FILMS LLC. • SUE CASA performed drag for 15 years in San Francisco prior to moving to Cathedral City. She has a variety of performance experience and has produced mul3ple weekly drag shows and special events (including an annual bus trip to Reno, NV).
Most recently, Sue has demonstrated her art to fellow Cathedral City residents by securing the 3tle of “Royal Highness 2025” at this year’s LGBT Days in March. Her “Exorcist” inspired performance at LGBT Days (which included Nate Wyckoff, CEO of CULT AND CLASSIC FILMS LLC) subsequently went viral on social media, and gives a sense of the level of crea3vity she plans on bringing to this project.
• CULT AND CLASSIC FILMS LLC is a local based film distributor and genre film podcast. Led by film cri3c and comedian Nate Wyckoff, Cult and Classic Film’s goal is to build a crea3ve and film-loving community based on art apprecia3on and the celebra3on of filmmakers and film fans who enjoy cinema that’s off the beaten path. As a company, Cult and Classic Films LLC ensures its filmmakers receive payment for every copy of their films sold, and they retain complete ownership of their crea3ons. Working with local ar3sts, Cult and Classic Films handles the design, manufacturing, and distribu3on of their filmmakers’ works, leaving them to do what they do best: create.
In addi3on to their distribu3on work, Cult and Classic Films LLC regularly produces shows and film screenings at the Palm Springs Cultural Center, including the monthly “Cult Nites” series and the “PalmSpringsComedyClass.com” stand- up comedy shows (featuring graduates of the related 8 week class, which Nate Wyckoff teaches with comedian Emily Lentz).
4. Timeline: (Provide a 3meline outlining key project milestones and ac3vi3es from concep3on to comple3on.)
1.June-August 2025: The grant funds are disbursed.
2.August 2025 (or as soon as funds are disbursed): The film license will be secured.
3.September 2025: The script will be wri?en and roles cast for the drag performance.
4.October 2025: Rehearsals will commence and all theater logis3cs will be solidified.
5.November 2025: The event will take place, and plans for the future of the series will commence.
5. What Do You UlMmately Hope To Accomplish Through Your Proposed Art/Program/Event? How Will It Enrich Cathedral City? (Describe your goals and objec3ves and how many people you hope to impact as a result of your project.)
The goal of “QUEER QLASSICS: A DRAG & FILM EXPERIENCE” is twofold:
1.It will offer a unique, fun, community-centric event for Cathedral City, serving to bring together residents with interests in film, drag, and queer culture. Events of this kind have been running in Palm Springs at the Palm Springs Cultural Center with great success (oten with the involvement of CULT AND CLASSIC FILMS LLC), and we believe it is 3me for Cathedral City residents to have their own event of this kind.
2.In addi3on, we intend to use this event as an opportunity to develop it into a recurring series, allowing us to bring more classic films from the Queer/Drag Lexicon to Cathedral City while giving addi3onal local entertainers performance opportuni3es.
Such a series would con3nue to grow and strengthen the aforemen3oned community connec3ons. It will also introduce film lovers to the local performance art scene and members of the performance art community to classic films and their fans.
Similarly, the series will introduce the area’s live performers to an audience that appreciates their art, ul3mately leading to a rise in area business a?endance where those ar3sts regularly perform.
The number of people impacted through this and the poten3al future series will be an es3mated 210 per event (as that is the maximum capacity of the theater auditorium in ques3on). It will also posi3vely impact the involved performers, both through their earnings and through exposure within the local community.
6. If Your Art/Program/Event Costs More Than You Are RequesMng From The Community Arts Grant Program, How Do You Plan To Pay For The AddiMonal Costs? (What Steps Have You Already Taken To Get Addi3onal Funds Or In- Kind Support If Necessary?)
The produc3on will not require addi3onal funds beyond those proposed, as there are alterna3ve op3ons available should condi3ons require them. There are three poten3al events that would cause the need for those op3ons.
1.The first would occur if the Mary Pickford D’Place theater became unavailable for the show due to an unknown reason, at which point our working rela3onships within the Cathedral City extended community would allow us to shit venues to another area performance space. There are several within the cost range of the Mary Pickford, with the only caveats being a slightly smaller a?endee size possible and the poten3al need for a projec3on kit. As CULT AND CLASSIC FILMS LLC currently has access to several pieces of screening equipment, the cost of securing a new space and rental of the remaining needed equipment could s3ll be met at the Pickford’s cost.
2.The second would be a problem with the film licensing. If this were due to elevated cost, we could easily switch to another excellent film and adjust the drag show content to reflect that. This would only happen early in the produc3on phase, when rehearsals would not yet have taken place so impact would be minimal (as the film license will be secured before the drag content is finalized).
3.Lastly, were a performer need to be replaced, our presence in the local drag scene would allow for a quick replacement to be secured, gran3ng another local performer the opportunity to join the produc3on.
7. Do You Plan To ConMnue This Art/Program/Event Beyond The Period For Which You Have Requested The Funds? If So, How Do You Plan To ConMnue Paying For It? (Describe the types of efforts you will undertake to raise funds as well as your/your organiza3on’s history of maintaining services/programs.) As outlined in Sec3on 5, Part 2, developing this into an ongoing series is a primary goal, and running this ini3al event will assist by allowing for proper marke3ng and the opportunity to fine-tune the running of the event.
In regards to covering the cost of future events, there are several op3ons we are considering, including:
• Implemen3ng a paid 3cket system (poten3ally with intermi?ent free events, as well) • Securing sponsorship from local businesses such as restaurants and retail shops, offering adver3sement during the event in return.
• Lessen overhead costs by dona3ng par3al proceeds to local chari3es such as the Desert Aids Project and area assistance programs for the unhoused. Benefits such as these can secure discounted rates on film licensing and venue space.
• Working with College of the Desert to involve enrolled film and arts students in the produc3ons, in turn for event funding.
*A?achments may be included with your submission. If including photos, files can be no larger than 20 mb.
To be considered for funding, a complete applicaMon must be submiNed by:
• Hard copies - postmarked by Friday, April 18, 2025
• Electronic copies - received by 5:00pm on Friday August 18, 2025 • Electronic submiNal is preferred
QuesMons: Please email [email protected] or call Anne Ambrose, Public Arts Commission Liaison at (760) 770-0331.
8. (OPTIONAL) Is There Anything That You Would Like To Add? If So, Please Tell Us Here:
Both of us, Sue Casa and Nate Wyckoff, specifically moved to the Cathedral City area because of its openness to crea3ve ventures and wealth of crea3ve, art-apprecia3ng, and suppor3ve residents. Through events such as “Queer Qlassics: A Drag & Film Event,” it is our goal to bring our skills and what we love to our neighbors, both to show our apprecia3on for our adopted home and connect all of us dwelling here through posi3ve, empowering events.
We look forward to doing so with this event, and many more to come.