$30,000 grant set to add 250 students to Old Town Artisan Studios

Old Town Artisan Studios will serve between 150 and 250 additional children during the 2026-27 program year following the receipt of a $30,000 Impact Grant. The announcement was made on Monday by the nonprofit, which provides arts education to underserved youth across the Coachella Valley.

The funding addresses specific operational gaps. Officials said the money will reduce waitlists and expand partnerships with schools, tribal communities, and other organizations. The grant will also cover transportation costs, purchase art supplies, upgrade equipment, and improve the organization's mobile outreach programs.

Old Town Artisan Studios operates a facility in La Quinta and runs mobile programs across the region. It partners with local schools, the Boys and Girls Club, and the YMCA to offer free and reduced-cost classes in ceramics, painting, and mixed media. Professional instructors deliver the curriculum.

Roccie Hill, the nonprofit's executive director, stated that the grant will help strengthen programs and partnerships. "This grant will help us strengthen our programs and partnerships so we can reach more young people who may not otherwise be exposed to art," Hill said in a statement.

Catharine Reed, vice president of charitable programs for the H.N. and Frances C. Berger Foundation, emphasized the importance of universal access to creative experiences. "Access to arts education should be available to everyone," Reed said. "This Impact Grant will help Old Town Artisan Studios bring meaningful creative experiences directly to children in our community."

The Impact Grant is a joint initiative between the Berger Foundation and KESQ News Channel 3. The program recognizes local nonprofits that work to improve lives and assist those in need.