Grantee Database
SUNSET MUSIC AND EDUCATION FOUNDATION
Grant Year
2026-27
Grant Program
General Operating Support
Award Amount
$12,000.00
Project Description
With support from the California Arts Council, SUNSET MUSIC AND EDUCATION FOUNDATION will strengthen the engine that keeps our music, education, and community work moving across the Coachella Valley. General Operating Support funds will help us build the infrastructure behind the scenes—program coordination, administration, marketing, accessibility, and systems that allow us to serve our community with excellence.
Support will sustain our SMARTS Initiative (Sharing Music, Accessing Resources, Transforming Students), which places instruments into the hands of underserved youth while providing mentorship, scholarships, and real-world learning opportunities alongside professional musicians. It will also help us continue producing community-centered performances that amplify underrepresented voices, celebrate culture, and bring people together across generations.
With CAC support, SMEF will be better positioned to grow responsibly, meet community needs, and create pathways for students, artists, and audiences throughout our region.
Organization Summary
The Sunset Music and Education Foundation (SMEF) delivers community-centered arts programming through live performances, music education, youth development, and intergenerational cultural engagement across the Coachella Valley.
Our signature SMARTS Initiative (Sharing Music, Accessing Resources, Transforming Students) provides underserved youth with instruments, scholarships, mentorship, and hands-on learning opportunities. Students gain real-world experience through rehearsals, soundchecks, workshops, and live performances alongside professional musicians.
SMEF also produces concerts, festivals, and the Sunset Music Series, presenting professional artists across genres including jazz, blues, soul, Latin, comedy, and multidisciplinary performance. These events serve as both cultural celebrations and educational platforms that expand access to the arts.
In addition, we present programs connected to Black History Month, Women’s History Month, Jazz Appreciation Month, Juneteenth, and other community celebrations that honor heritage, creativity, and shared history.
Our programs also create welcoming spaces where older adults remain connected, engaged, and part of the cultural life of the community, reflecting our belief that the arts should enrich every stage of life.
Organization
SUNSET MUSIC AND EDUCATION FOUNDATION
Address
1900 S PALM CANYON DR UNIT 52
PALM SPRINGS
92264-8949
County
Riverside
Region
Inland Empire
Website
