Monterey Jazz Festival

The Monterey Jazz Festival produces and presents the longest-running jazz festival in the United States, limited year-round jazz performance programming, and an arts education program for young jazz students locally and nationally. The organization’s primary activity centers around its annual three-day festival that hosts an audience of 38,000, and features 50 concerts and 500 jazz musicians from around the world. The Monterey Jazz Festival’s arts education programs provide learning, mentoring, and performance opportunities for more than 3,000 middle and high school students each year, culminating with performances at the festival. This grant to the Monterey Jazz Festival aligns with the Performing Arts Program’s Continuity and Engagement strategy through its Innovative Works component.

Monterey Jazz Festival is known nationally and internationally for its three days of performances each September for 38,000 participants. The festival’s consistent quality, access to the most renowned jazz musicians, longevity, and prestige uniquely position the organization to influence the perpetuation of jazz in America and around the world. It has created a slate of jazz education programs that provide exceptional learning, mentoring, and performance opportunities for more than 3,000 middle and high school students annually, most at no cost. Renewed support will allow the festival to continue its work building relationships with the local community and supporting arts education strategic planning efforts in Monterey County.