Staff Report
City Council
Item No. 5.D
Meeting
Date:
January 14, 2026
From: Anne V. Ambrose, Interim City Manager
Title: Update on the Public Arts Commission Activities
RECOMMENDATION:
To hear a report on the current activities of the Public Arts Commission.
BACKGROUND:
The Public Arts Commission has been very busy over the last two fiscal years to support the creation of public art and to provide support for other artistic endeavors in the City. The Commission makes recommendations for the use of three pools of funding to support their activities:
Art in Public Places Fund – in-lieu developer fees paid to procure permanent public art in the community. As of June 30, 2025, the fund balance is $422,944 of which $173,000 is allocated to the Esperanza Park sculpture project. $10,000 general fund annual budget for commission planned/sponsored events, and $20,000 Community Grants Program budget – a general fund grant program providing small grants annually to community organizations focusing mainly on the performing arts.
Tonight’s report is to provide an update to the City Council and community on some of the key activities the commissioners have accomplished in FY 2024/25 and FY 2025/26.
DISCUSSION:
Ocotillo Bench Project
The Public Arts Commission conducted a call for artists to paint 24 benches at Ocotillo Park.
The Commission approved the artists selected on June 25, 2024, and the City Council approved the recommendations on August 14, 2024, with the painting of the benches occurring the week of October 11-13, 2024. A tour of the completed benches, along with the city’s full public art collection is available on the City’s mapping website at:
https://gisportal.cathedralcity.gov/portal/apps/storymaps/stories/9d1430e6c8eb48229fc048 694a315a60
Entryway Monument Signs
Current Chair Craig Liebelt and former Chair Tom Rudolph worked with Councilmember Nancy Ross to come up with a recommendation for a new, consistent entryway monument sign for the City. The subcommittee recommended a scaled down version of the Mountain Cathedrals sculpture by Michael Paul Thiry currently on Date Palm Drive. Public Works has been in the process of getting quotes for the construction scheduled to be before the City Council at the January 28, 2026, meeting for consideration and approval.
Quarterly Art Exhibits
Vice Chair Rick Travis initiated the idea of hosting quarterly art exhibits at the Cathedral City Library to allow local and regional artists the opportunity to display and sell their works. The events are scheduled over a weekend each quarter. There have been seven exhibits so far, starting in May of 2024 to the most recent in November of 2025. A new call for artists will be generated soon to kick off the series for 2026. There has been no cost for the event other than staff time and the procurement of display racks for the exhibits. Based on door counts kept by the commissioners, approximately 1,000 visitors have come to the exhibits since its inception.
Community Arts Grants Program
The Public Arts Commission is in its second year of providing up to a total of $20,000 in small grants to community organizations to further arts programming in the city. The program launched in FY 2024/25 and during the first cycle, funds were awarded to four organizations:
Cathedral City Senior Center - $4,000
Yve Evans Jazz & Blues Series
International Jazz Day
Love Letters – Royalties
Senior Center Book Festival
Senior Art Show
Cinco de Mayo Celebration
Approximately 1,350 participants were engaged across all six programs. The grant provided free access for residents who may otherwise face barriers to cultural participation.
Cathedral City Peace Initiative - $2,500
Created a peace pole for every Cathedral City elementary school. Funds were spent on materials to make the poles and the art supplies. The student population at elementary schools in Cathedral City is approximately 3,810.
Coachella Valley Classical Voices - $9,950
Produced a mini version of Hansel and Gretel at the Cathedral City Library and the Cathedral City Senior Center. Three hundred people were affected by the production. The grant amount was used on artist fees and production building costs, including set pieces and costumes.
Coachella Valley Repertory - $3,550
The full grant amount was dedicated to supporting Youth Outreach programs, specifically focusing on the Bully Plays and Theatre for Young Audiences initiatives. These programs engaged local youth through theatrical productions promoting social awareness, cultural appreciation, and community dialogue. Funds were allocated toward essential production costs including but not limited to education materials, performance royalties, instructor fees, and production supplies. This financial support was instrumental in ensuring free access to students from over 18 local high schools to attend and participate in the performances.
For FY 2025/26, the City Council approved the following organizations to receive funds to be programmed in this fiscal year:
Desert Ensemble - $2,500
Green Room Theatre - $2,500
Larry Harris/Strong Words - $2,000
S.C.R.A.P. Gallery - $5,000
Cathedral City Senior Center - $5,000
Cult and Classic Films, LLC - $3,000
Total = $20,000
Karen and Tony Barone Art Exhibit – CATalysts of the Future The Public Arts Commission, in partnership with the Chuck Jones Gallery, hosted an exhibition of the playful, larger-than-life sculptures of Karen and Tony Barone. The exhibition presented fourteen of the Barone’s signature works including colorful animal sculptures and more abstract pieces, around Town Square Park and in front of City Hall and the Police Department. A dedication and reception took place on March 15, 2025, and the exhibit took place until April 20, 2025. The exhibition cost $2,300, namely for the installation and pick up of the art pieces and signs and was funded by the Public Art Commission’s general fund budget.
Craig French Sculpture Donation
Chair Liebelt facilitated the donation of a sculpture through Lisa Dempton of the A Gallery Fine Art in Palm Desert. The Sculpture “Ozone” by artist Craig French, has been installed in the rotunda of the library.
Esperanza Park Roundabout Public Art Project
On September 8, 2025, a call for artists was initiated soliciting artists to submit their qualifications to be considered to create the entryway sculpture for Esperanza Park. Prior to initiating the call, staff and commissioners from both the Public Arts Commission and Parks and Community Events commission conducted an evening of engagement with residents from the Dream Homes community, seeking their thoughts on what they’d like to see in the entryway sculpture – both in its meaning and potential materials. Staff also sent out coloring sheets to the Agua Caliente school and received over 90 drawings back. Staff used the online Call for Entry system, which is well used in the artist communities to apply for calls.
The city received 148 applications nationwide for this project and the Public Arts Commissioners reviewed and ranked the entries. On December 18, 2025, the Public Arts Commission met to review their rankings and selected three artists (and two alternates in case either of the top two cannot move forward), to receive a $1,000 stipend to fully develop a concept for the roundabout. The artists will make a presentation to the Public Arts Commission on February 10 after which, community input will be sought on the three proposals. The Public Arts Commission is scheduled to make the final selection on March 10, 2026, with final approval going to the City Council fthereafter. The selected artist will receive $100,000 to cover all costs related to the design, engineering, fabrication, transportation and installation of the piece, along with the artists’ fees. Installation, uplighting and permit fees will be covered by the city. The total project budget is not to exceed $173,000 and is funded by the Art in Public Places fund.
Art in Parks Grant
Arts in California Parks is a new program from California State Parks. This initiative brings together talented artists, wise culture bearers, California Native American tribes, and diverse communities. Part of this program is a grant to bring art into local parks. Cathedral City applied for the first round in June 2024 but did not receive an award. The City applied during the second round and was awarded an implementation grant in the amount of $98,167.00 that must be completed by October 2026.
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Cathedral City’s project, Hope Rising, will activate Esperanza Park, welcoming neighbors and visitors to this new public space, promoting fun and culturally relevant activities to ensure the park remains a safe place for all to enjoy. The activation events at the park will help bring the community together and create a sense of ownership for the residents.
The project will also help celebrate Cathedral City’s diverse cultures through four themed events: Echoes of the Past, Voices of the Present, Visions of the Future, and Together We Heal. Each event will center around these themes and will culminate in the community working together with an artist to paint a mural located on the 9.5 ft x 30 ft wall facing the entry to CV Link. The mural will showcase the themes identified in the events and will be a welcoming entryway into the park. The planned events will utilize art activities, music, cultural performances, storytelling, poetry, and food to bring the community together and celebrate our shared heritage. Desert Recreation District (DRD) has pledged support for this project and will help plan and implement the grant activities.
The Public Arts Commission and Parks and Community Events Commission have delegates who will be working on this project in conjunction with the DRD.
Cathedral City Festival of the Arts
On September 24, 2025, the City Council approved the Public Art Commission’s recommendation to fund an art festival in the Amphitheater on Saturday, March 28, 2026.
The City Council approved the allocation of up to $5,000 out of the commission’s general fund budget for this new event. The event will focus on supporting local artists through a low entry fee and by allowing the artists to keep their full commissions. Commissioner Stouder is heading up the planning with the assistance of Vice Chair Travis. They have been coordinating with Communications and Special Events and the DRD for months to strategize and plan the event.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact for this report.
FIVE-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN:
Goal B – Community Investment
Goal F – Embracing, Inclusive Community
Objective F-3 Promote additional community events and celebrations