From introducing young children to art through hands-on workshops, to providing instruments and music instruction to low income elementary and middle school students, to creating the first performing arts center in the east valley—arts programs in the Coachella Valley were given a boost with $50,000 in grants to eight organizations. The grants are part of a two-year statewide initiative funded by The James Irvine Foundation to strengthen and promote the arts—theater, dance, music, and visual arts such as painting and sculpture—and make them accessible to everyone.

Mexican Cultural Institute. The Institute is a catalyst for building bridges between ethnic groups in Southern California through collaboration and exchange in the cultural and fine arts arena. The $7,500 grant will help fund the “Art is for Everyone” program, produced in partnership with the United Farmworkers of the Coachella Valley, that will target 30 Hispanic children in the third grade. These classes will introduce the children to the work of great Mexican American and Latin American artists, and the students will be given hands-on instruction in working with clay, paint, beads, wood, and other media. The classes will continue for the entire school year.

S.C.R.A.P. Gallery. The mission of the Gallery is to actively engage youth in art experiences and introducing them to their environment through the use of recycled and reused materials. They provide hands-on workshops and field trips for students in grades K-12. The $7,500 grant will support the development of the “EnviroCottage” program, which will provide arts/environmental/vocation training for youth. The EnviroCottage will be a dedicated hands-on exhibit in the S.C.R.A.P. Gallery for children.

Coachella Valley Symphony/Buddy Rogers Youth Symphony. This 70-piece orchestra offers a variety of classical and popular music, performing six main concerts each season. In addition, their Buddy Rogers Youth Symphony is comprised of 50 student musicians ages 8 through 17. The $7,500 grant will go towards providing instruments at no charge to lower income students in elementary and middle school as part of an educational outreach program to provide classes in stringed instruments to children who would otherwise not have this opportunity.

Indio Performing Arts Center. The Center was established with the mission of bringing performing arts to the east valley, which currently has no performing arts theatres. They plan to provide three theatres that will allow the people of Indio and surrounding areas the opportunity to view and participate in live theatre as cast, crew, volunteers, and audience members. The $5,000 grant will help convert a building currently housing movie theatres into a performing arts center.

La Quinta Playhouse. The Playhouse produces live theatre performances featuring both professional and amateur performers. They also offer scholarships and internships to develop local talent and provide the opportunity for local community members and students to participate in theatre productions. The Playhouse currently uses an outdoor stage and is planning to construct a permanent, indoor theatre at the Silver Rock Complex. In the interim, the $5,000 grant will help fund the purchase of a sprung tent at the Silver Rock Complex to provide comfortable seating and accommodations.

The Steinway Society of Riverside County and the Coachella Valley. The mission of the Steinway Society is to promote excellence in piano performances by funding piano studies, encouraging music education, and developing audiences for the performing arts. The $5,000 grant will be used to expand the “Classics for Children,” a school-based program that introduces children to classical music and its history, especially students from disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds that otherwise would have no exposure to this type of experience.

Cathedral City Public Arts Commission. The Commission was established by ordinance in 1996 to “enhance the cultural and aesthetic environment of the City and to encourage creativity and appreciation of the visual arts.” The $5,000 grant will help the Commission establish an ongoing series of monthly performances of chamber concerts, solo musical performances, staged readings, a jazz concert, and a choral concert.

The Virginia Waring International Piano Competition. The Competition, held in Palm Desert, is a major international event, with separate competitions for three different age groups of pianists from around the world. The $7,500 grant will help fund a cultural awareness campaign in the Coachella Valley about the Competition. The goals of the campaign are to broaden the audience and promote diversity in the Competition. The campaign will focus on networking and outreach to community and youth centers, the YMCA, Boys and Girls Clubs, churches, and other organizations.