In May 1973, a group of Coachella Valley business, education, and cultural leaders organized as Friends of the Cultural Center, Inc. and committed themselves to the creation of a state-of-the-art performing arts center. Their vision was to enhance and enrich the lives of Coachella Valley residents by making the performing arts available to as many people as possible. The vision became reality in January 1988, with the opening of McCallum Theatre. Named for a pioneering desert family, the McCallum has gained acclaim as one of the country's finest presenting theaters by audiences, entertainers, and peers alike. Ticket sales consistently place the McCallum in the top 50 theaters in the world.



McCallum Theatre Education, the theatre's educational outreach division, was founded in 1997. It offers arts literacy experiences for approximately 50,000 children, parents, and educators annually, at the McCallum, in area classrooms, and virtually. Participation has steadily increased and, this year, the McCallum will partner with area schools, 223 classrooms, and more than 5,300 students, representing over 50 percent of valley schools.