Staff Report
Public Arts Commission
Item No. 3.A
Meeting Date: April 14, 2026
From: Anne Ambrose, Assistant City Manager
Sponsors: Chair Liebelt and Commissioner Marks
Title: Discuss and Finalize Proposal to Expend Remaining Public Arts Commission Budget for FY 2025/26
RECOMMENDATION:
To approve use of remaining $5,000 in the Public Arts Commission’s General Fund budget to go towards a two-day event at The Perez Art District to Celebrate Where Art Lives.
BACKGROUND:
During the February and March Public Arts Commission meetings, the Commission discussed opportunities to utilize the remaining $5,000 available in their General Fund budget before the end of the fiscal year. From the discussions, Chair Liebelt and Commissioner Marks agreed to reach out to the artists of The Perez Art District to explore opportunities for collaboration.
DISCUSSION:
The Cathedral City Public Arts Commission, in partnership with the artists of The Perez Art District and property owners who own some of the buildings within the district, are proposing a special Fourth Friday celebration on Friday May 22, and Saturday, May 23, 2026, designed to elevate the Perez Arts District as a vibrant creative hub and strengthen its role in the cultural identity of our city. To produce a meaningful, high impact kickoff event, the Commission requests approval to use its remaining $5,000 in discretionary funds. This investment supports an immersive, artist centered celebration that increases visibility, drives engagement, and lays the foundation for recurring District wide programming.
This two-day celebration transforms Perez Road into a lively, street level arts corridor. Home to more than 60 working artists, makers, and creative visionaries, the Perez Arts District stands as one of Cathedral City’s most significant cultural assets. This event serves as a high energy launch point — drawing residents, visitors, and art lovers into studios, amplifying the district’s creative identity, and building momentum toward future District wide activations.
What Guests Will Experience:
Open studios buzzing with conversation, creativity, and hands on discovery Artists welcoming visitors into their workspaces, sharing process, story, and craft Music drifting through the district — amplified sets along Buildings A&C and H&I, and intimate acoustic performances inside select galleries. Short bursts of dance and movement that surprise, delight, and animate the space Interactive art moments that invite guests to linger, explore, and create Food trucks and other mobile refreshments.
This celebration is more than a single evening — it is a strategic investment in the long-term visibility and vitality of The Perez Arts District. By showcasing the district’s creative energy and inviting the community to “come play,” the event strengthens Cathedral City’s cultural identity, supports local artists, and builds the foundation for sustainable, recurring arts programming that can grow year after year.
The event builds upon current momentum that has been focusing on the economic engine that is our downtown arts scene, that began with the ribbon cutting of the new Desert Modern gallery on March 5, the first annual Festival of the Arts in the Cathedral City Community Amphitheater on March 28, a second ribbon cutting planned in the district welcoming the Barbara Eberhart Gallery on May 6, and culminating the season with this planned events on May 22 and 23 which will bolster the existing Forth Friday Art walks into something more subs.
Chair Liebelt and Commissioner Marks have had several meetings with the artists of The Perez Art District to develop the concept for the two-day festival. Communications and Engagement Director Ryan Hunt and Assistant City Manager Anne Ambrose attended the most recent meeting on April 1, 2026, to help answer logistic questions and finalize the proposed agenda. This has truly been a partnership effort with the participating artists, Public Arts Commissioners, and staff helping to identify performers, food trucks, and activities for the event.
The following are proposed activities that the artists are planning in their studios. There may be additional activities, but this is current as of the publishing of the agenda.
Friday May 22 4:00-9:00pm Saturday May 23 11:00-4:00 Working List of Gallery Events and Activities
4:00 - 4:20 11:00 – 11:20
“Paint a mini 4” canvas inspired by art
you saw on the art walk”
Ongoing throughout both festival days for
as long as supplies last.
Emeline
"Experiment with pre-made plaster casts
that you can add to create your own
sculptural painting."
Building H suite 27
Anne Bedrick Fine Art
Building H suite 27
“Paint a mini 4” canvas inspired by art
you saw on the art walk”
Ongoing throughout both festival days for
as long as supplies last.
4:30-4:50 11:30 – 11:50
Cheryl Gaines STUDIO
68-703 Perez Rd
Bldg A,Suite 17
personal tour of gallery work on
Cheryl Gaines STUDIO
68-703 Perez Rd
Bldg A,Suite 17
personal tour of gallery work on
Friday,May 22 @4:30pm Saturday,May23 @11:30am
5:00- 5:20 12:00 – 12:20
Bart Baxter
Studio H6/7 is planning a poetry reading
followed by an open mic.
We will provide the amplifier, microphone,
and a few folding chairs.
We would love to have thirty minutes.
I was the 1994 MTV Poetry Grand Slam
winner, the 1998 Seattle Poetry Grand
Slam winner, and the first ever 'Poet
Populist' of Seattle.
Emeline
"Experiment with pre-made plaster casts
that you can add to create your own
sculptural painting."
Building H suite 27
5:30- 5:50 12:30 – 12:50
Anne Bedrick Fine Art
Building H suite 27
“Paint a mini 4” canvas inspired by art
you saw on the art walk”
Kathleen Strukoff- Desert Modern Gallery
Suite I-27
Paint a Desert Botanical on a Rock for
your Garden
6:00 – 6:20 1:00 – 1:20
Barbara Eberhart.
Building C suite 7
Fashion Show in my gallery wearing
hand-painted shirts they either painted in
one of my classes, or just modeling shirts
I offer for sale.
20-minute
Friday 6:00
Lisa Van Herik
Building I 16, suite 3 Seasons Gallery,
How to weave a wire Basket 12 people
max
Saturday 1PM
6:30- 6:50 1:30 - 1:50
Kathleen Strukoff- Desert Modern Gallery
68895 Perez Road,
Suite I-27 (last one on the left)
"Painting our Desert" - an artist talk with
Kathleen Strukoff
May 22nd: 6:00 - 6:20
Kathleen Strukoff- Desert Modern Gallery
68895 Perez Road,
Suite I-27 (last one on the left)
"Painting our Desert" - an artist talk with
May 23rd 1:00 - 1:20
Rock Painting
7:00 – 7:20 2:00- 2:20
Anne Bedrick Fine Art
Building H suite 27
“Paint a mini 4” canvas inspired by art
you saw on the art walk”
Ongoing throughout both festival days for
as long as supplies last.
Bart Baxter
Studio H6/7 is planning a poetry reading
followed by an open mic.
We will provide the amplifier, microphone,
and a few folding chairs.
We would love to have thirty minutes.
I was the 1994 MTV Poetry Grand Slam
winner, the 1998 Seattle Poetry Grand
Slam winner, and the first ever 'Poet
Populist' of Seattle.
7:30 – 7:50 2:30 – 2:50
Kathleen Strukoff- Desert Modern Gallery
Suite I-27
Rock Painting
Anne Bedrick Fine Art
Building H suite 27
“Paint a mini 4” canvas inspired by art
you saw on the art walk”
Ongoing throughout both festival days for
as long as supplies last.
8:00 – 8:20 3:00 – 3:20
Alberto Garcia-Uria Studio
Suite I-26
Special exhibit; "Subjugation" / The
Darkness Within Democracy / A visual
Reckoning
In conjunction with the Fall of Freedom
National campaign, we invite you to
experience a profound and thought-
provoking exhibition held at the Alberto
Garcia-Uria Studio/studio_gallery26. The
exhibition encourages all who see it to
raise their voices and resist forces that
threaten the foundational principles of
freedom and equality.
Alberto Garcia-Uria Studio
Suite I-26
Special exhibit; "Subjugation" / The
Darkness Within Democracy / A visual
Reckoning
In conjunction with the Fall of Freedom
National campaign, we invite you to
experience a profound and thought-
provoking exhibition held at the Alberto
Garcia-Uria Studio/studio_gallery26. The
exhibition encourages all who see it to
raise their voices and resist forces that
threaten the foundational principles of
freedom and equality.
8:30 – 8:50
Andrée B Carter
Building I Suite 17
Gallery tour with question-and-answer
format describing my needlepoint and
embroidery designs and mixing of colors
from powdered pigments
The Public Arts Commission’s contribution would be funding for the musicians that will be performing at different times and throughout the various streets in the district, a dance performance provided by students with Dance with Miss Lindsay, rentals and printing for a passport that attendees can use to document their favorite studios and activities. In addition to the City’s contributions, on of the property owners in the district has pledged up to $5,000 to advertise for the event.
Category Vendor Category Amount
City
Contributions
Music The Perdido Trio Musician $ 200.00
Javier Valenzuela Singer $ 200.00
Kevin Christopher Musician $ 200.00
Cathedral City Bluegrass Band Bluegrass Ensemble $ 600.00 The Blasto Boy Band Band $ 600.00
Dance
Dance with Miss Lindsay - Dance
School Student Dancers $ 300.00
Rentals Dabresa Party Rentals Tables and Chairs $ 400.00
Printing Costs TBD
Passport Brochure x
2,500 copies $ 1,200.00
Supplies $ 500.00
Contingency $ 800.00
Subtotal $ 5,000.00
Business
Owner
Contributions
Advertising $ 5,000.00
Total $ 10,000.00
FUNDING SOURCE:
This initiative would be funded by the Public Arts Commission General Fund Budget. $5,000 was committed to the Festival of the Arts, leaving a remaining balance of $5,000 available for this event.