CITY OF CATHEDRAL CITY
FISCAL YEAR (FY) 2025/2026
COMMUNITY ARTS GRANT PROGRAM
APPLICATIONS ARE DUE BY 5:00 PM FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2026
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
To be considered for funding, a complete application must be submitted by:
• Hard copies - postmarked by April 24, 2026
• Electronic copies - received by 5:00 pm on Friday April 24, 2026. • Electronic submittal is preferred.
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.
We are delighted to announce the opening of the application period for the Community Arts Grant Program offere
d 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 include art expressed in any medium, incl uding, 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.
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.
part harmony acappella women's chorus appeals to many demographic groups, including younger children, seniors, and those in between as evidenced by those who attend the ensemble's concerts. Further, the ensemble is often engaged to perform at private events, demonstrating the appeal of the chorus. Partners are the three high schools currently participating with Coachella Acappella, as well as CCHS. Additionally, the chorus will work with at least one organization serving seniors to perform a dress rehearsal at their facility, so individuals who otherwise would not attend a concert have an opportunity to hear the chorus performance.
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.)
The total budget for the concert is $10,201.
$1,500 venue rental (assumes CCHS as venue)
$ 720 vocal tracks for chorus (assumes 12 new pieces of music, at $60 per song) $1,056 music licensing fee for chorus (assumes 22 chorus members and 12 new pieces of music, at a cost of $4 per copy)
$ 120 learning tracks for CCHS students (assumes 2 pieces of music for CCHS students only) $ 160 music licensing fee for CCHS students (assumes 4 pieces of music with 2 sung with chorus)
$ 500 guest performer fees
$ 500 advertising
$ 524 program printing
$4,000 artistic director stipend
$1,121 rehearsal space fees for 9-month grant period
Coachella Acappella is requesting $3,556 in grant funding from Cathedral City, representing 35% of the total costs for concert. The grant funding includes $2,000 toward the Artistic Director's stipend; funding for the learning tracks and music for CCHS students ($280), $720 for the vocal tracks for the new music, two of which will also be used by the CCHS students; and $556 toward the music licensing fees for the chorus' new music.
Coachella Acappella generates income from ticket sales, singer dues, advertising in programs, donations, and hired events. In addition to the grant, the spring 2027 concert will use funds from these sources to produce the concert.
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.)
Established in July, 2019, the women's chorus weathered the shutdown of the pandemic, moving rehearsals to Zoom, so members could continue to rehearse and learn music. Providing community concerts, working with local high school students, including them in concert performances, and singing for public and private events, Coachella Acappella's membership has grown, along with its reputation for providing outstanding non-accompanied four-part harmony singing. For example, they performed multiple nights at The Living Desert during December, performing Christmas and Hanukkah music, as hired entertainment. On April 15, they performed at The Cascade Lounge in the Palm Springs Agua Caliente Casino, with a packed house. The ensemble will perform a selection of songs from this concert, along with the high school students, on April 29 at the Rancho Mirage Library and Observatory. One of the benefits for women interested in singing with Coachella Acappella, as well as for the high school students who participate, is that a member does not need to read music to sing with the ensemble. Practice tapes are provided for each part, allowing singers without an ability to read music to join. Often, vocal ensembles require music reading and sight singing to participate.
Thus, Coachella Acappella and AcaChella allow women and girls who love to sing an opportunity to participate. More information about the organization is found at http://www.coachellaacappella.org. A short video can be viewed here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MkgUWh7mos
The organization has an annual budget of less than $25,000.
4. Timeline: (Provide a timeline outlining key project milestones and activities from conception to completion.)
August 2026: purchase music for concert, finalize date for concert and retain concert venue, establish rehearsal times for Cathedral City high school students September 2026: begin rehearsing music for spring concert (2027); recruit CCHS students, begin rehearsing music and voice technique with students
September 2026 - October 2026: identify interested senior facilities in Cathedral City, including the Senior Center, to establish a date for a pre-concert performance. Reach agreement on date September 2026 - February 2027: continue to pursue grants, donors, corporate sponsors, and others to support the spring concert; continue recruitment of CCHS students March 2027: perform modified concert repertoire at senior venue, including CCHS students in performance
March 2027 - April 2027: Advertise spring concert; finalize concert logistics; sell tickets; perform concert at least once at selected venue
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.)
Goal: Engage Cathedral City residents in women's choral singing Objective 1: Re-establish an AcaChella program at CCHS, supporting girls in four-part acappella singing
Objective 2: Perform in at least one senior facility for residents/attendees to enjoy a free concert of women's four-part unaccompanied singing
Objective 3: Perform a concert in Cathedral City, to engage residents in the joys of choral singing
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?)
Since its establishment, Coachella Acappella has generated funds for its concerts and performances through singer dues, advertising in programs, grant applications, donations, ticket sales, and fees earned from performing at private events. These activities will continue to support funding the spring 2027 concert.
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.)
Coachella Acappella is an ongoing choral ensemble, with regular recruitment of new members for the chorus and high school students. With the exception of the pandemic years, the chorus has offered a spring concert each year to residents of the Coachella Valley, performing in various venues across the valley (e.g., Palm Springs, Palm Desert, Cathedral City, etc.). The Chorus board of directors works to obtain advertising funds, performance underwriting, paid private performances, and donations to sustain the ensemble and supplement member dues and ticket sales. The ensemble also pursues grants.
8. (OPTIONAL) Is There Anything That You Would Like To Add? If So, Please Tell Us Here:
The 2019 study about choral singing, conducted by Grunwald Associates LLC and Chorus America (The Chorus Impact Study: Singing for a Lifetime) demonstrated the broad benefits of choral singing for singers and communities. Among the findings are that choral singing is a significant part of American life, with more than 54 million Americans singing in some type of choral ensemble. Choral singers make strong contributions to their communities, including volunteering more often than those who do not sing in a chorus and being more likely to assume leadership roles in the community, when compared to those not singing in a chorus.
For older singers, who are over 65 years of age, they experience a better quality of life and experience better health than their peers who are not participating in a chorus. Further, older singers participate in a wider range of activities than their peers who do not sing in a chorus.
The last finding of the study was that individuals who sing in a chorus feel less lonely and are more connected to others than their peers who do not participate in a chorus. Overall, these findings demonstrate that choral singing, such as with Coachella Acappella, benefits both the individuals who participate as well as the community as a whole. Funding to sustain choral singing is a wise investment for communities.
Karen Blinkinsop <[email protected]>
Fwd: final draft Karen's Choral Letter of Reco to CC April 2026 1 message
Rebecca M Hendrickson <[email protected]> Tue, Apr 21, 2026 at 4:41 PM To: [email protected]
April 21, 2026
To Whom It May Concern at Cathedral City Community
Arts Grant Program,
My name is Rebecca M. Hendrickson. I have resided in the Coachella Valley for 27 years. My engagement with our community has been deliberate and varied having served on the Board of the Palm Springs High School Band for four years, served as Chaperone for two international Band trips, been a Girl Scout leader for ten years, participated in the Path of the Bighorn as an artist (my ram resides at the Rancho Mirage Library), been an Odyssey of the Mind team coach to youth, helped originate a Middle School Debate Team, have been and currently am a volunteer at Hidden Harvest,
and trained and volunteered as an art instructor in elementary schools in Palm Springs. I taught college level art at an all-women’s college previous to living in the desert. Also, I am a mother of 34- year old twin daughters.
My experience has allowed me a clear window in to the minds, perspectives, and potentials of young women. It has allowed me to acknowledge and emphasize the importance of engagement of high school young women in positive, life-influencing activities. These are vital to female students to help them realize successful lives in careers, community, and family. They provide a sense of self-worth and self-confidence.
It is, therefore, my pleasure to endorse and support the work of Alan Scott and the Coachella Acappella Women’s Chorus. This established community choral group began an outreach program in 2023 called Acachella. It involves recruiting of, training of, and offering performances for female high school students. Under Mr. Scott’s leadership and his adult singers’ enthusiasm and talent, the initial program at Palm Springs High School grew to serve three high schools . They meet in their free time during lunch to learn and practice. They do not receive school credit for this. They participate because they want to learn and have fun together.
The students receive voice and music instruction from Mr. Scott and various adult choir members.
They learn how to participate in a group while pursuing their individual goals and talents. They acquire self-confidence within their weekly practices that is further elevated as they perform for the public during concerts. They learn responsibility – showing up on time for practice and being prepared to sing their individual parts. They realize positive participation experiences in community as well as individual benefits. All of these attributes build character and contribute to healthy and successful lives.
I have witnessed firsthand from my own daughters and their schoolmates at Palm Springs Unified School District the positive effects of extra-curricular high school activities. They are stepping stones to building engaged lives. They give confidence to pursue individual as well as group goals. They support an “I can do that” attitude that reaches far in to their futures. They are enjoyable as well as excellent learning opportunities. For all of these reasons, the Acachella program is worthy of growth and to remain free for students.
The Coachella Acappella Women’s Chorus desires to bring the whole Chorus and Acachella to Cathedral City through this grant.
I greatly encourage your organization, Cathedral City Community Arts Grant Program, to assist in the further development of the worthwhile efforts of Acachella and the Coachella Acappella Women’s Chorus. Female high school students in Cathedral City will thrive and taste success through personal growth and community engagement and residents and senior citizens will prosper with musical performances and cultural opportunities. Please consider their grant request.
If I can provide further information, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Best regards,
Rebecca M. Hendrickson
2301 N. Via Monte Vista 760-668-5270 Palm Springs, CA 92262 [email protected] Karen Blinkinsop <[email protected]>
The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens Testimonial for Grant Opportunity Judy Esterbrook <[email protected]> Mon, Apr 20 at 5:28 PM To: Karen Blinkinsop <[email protected]>
We have collaborated with Coachella Acappella for the last several years on our annual WildLights event. The team has brought joy and smiles to our guests as they enter the zoo during the holidays. They have been such a great addition to the event and really set the tone for a beautiful sense of arrival for this beloved community event. We encourage you to consider them highly for this grant opportunity. The chance to experience acappella in person is a rare opportunity. We hope that you will help them preserve this enriching experience for new generations to come.
Wild regards,
Judy
Judy Esterbrook
Senior Manager – Sales, Partnerships & Special Events
(760) 346-5694 ext. 2123 | [email protected] Direct (760) 346-9810
47900 Portola Avenue, Palm Desert, CA 92260
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