A new space for arts and music is opening in the Coachella Valley, with the intention of alleviating some of the pressures and challenges local creatives have faced.
The CV Collective, located at 1030 Sixth St., No. 8, in Coachella, is slated to open its doors on June 26. Equal parts music venue, art gallery and creative safe haven, the new space is meant to be hub for all things art in the desert. The project is being spearheaded by members of the local arts scene: Leopoldo Juan Treviño (guitarist/vocalist of Bronca), and visual artists Valeria Moreno and Melissa Grano.
During a recent in-person interview, the trio explained what makes the CV Collective different from other spaces dedicated to the arts.
“We actually fucking care,” Treviño said. “We care about the community. There are different ways to go about caring about community, and this is one of the ones that is greatly missing.”
Moreno said the space will not only house artistic expression, but build a community within the four walls—and, hopefully, beyond.
“I love being creative,” Moreno said. “I like making art, and it’s one of the ways that I express myself more freely, so I want to be able to do that, while also, in a sense, building community. I want to be able to connect with people, especially people from the community we came from, because I feel like it’s really needed out there, especially with the location we’re at. It’s a good place where people from CV can … spend time together and getting to know each other.”
While local venues have come and gone, and have been in short supply, the local arts scene has been consistently growing. Whether it’s a hardcore show, an indie show or an art exhibition, you’ll see some of the same creativity-lovers out and about.
“We’re building a safe space where we can express ourselves, in a place that was lacking expressive outlets,” Moreno said.
The trio of experienced creatives hopes their combined passion and history can educate and empower other local artists.
“The biggest thing that connected all of us was we wanted to create space for people, and give that resource as people who have gone through the creative pathways of being an artist and a performer,” Grano said. “That wasn’t really given to us. We are from here, so I think that’s the most exciting thing about this. … We fucking care, and not only do we care, but we’re very passionate about what we want to do.”
One of the trio’s goals is to create a space where artists can forge career paths.
“Most of the time, you’re taught that you either have to go into the labor force, or get a really insane job in the STEM field or something,” Moreno said. “Being able to at least surround yourself with creativity opens your mind to … something that isn’t just limited to the ideas or the paths that they laid out in front of us.”
The CV Collective is joining forces with Hot Stuff Booking, a group dedicated to hosting hardcore bands across the desert led by Sage Jackson (with additional help from Jack Harris and Treviño). Although hundreds of desert rockers come out and mosh to many of the Hot Stuff shows, stigma surrounding the hardcore genre, and issues with code enforcement, have caused a few shows to get cancelled and shut down, and organizers to be fined.
“Most of the time, you’re taught that you either have to go into the labor force, or get a really insane job in the STEM field or something. Being able to at least surround yourself with creativity opens your mind to … something that isn’t just limited to the ideas or the paths that they laid out in front of us.”
Valeria moreno
“I’ve linked up with Sage, because I’ve been doing shows here in the Coachella Valley since 2004, and Sage is a transplant from Texas, but it’s almost like he is a native Coachella Valley dude because of how much he’s putting into the work he’s doing throwing shows,” Treviño said. “In the last two or so years, we’ve just had so much heartbreak and headaches of trying to figure out where to throw shows, having them get shut down the day of.”
A recent Hot Stuff show took place behind the Danza Azteca Citlaltonac Indigenous Cultural Center, a local nonprofit that provides information and hosts cultural events showcasing the culture and traditions of the Anahuac peoples of Mexico. Habak, a hardcore band from Tijuana, headlined the show. The CV Collective is located right next door to Danza Azteca.
“It just took one connection with the owners of that private property in Coachella, right next to where they let us throw that Habak show in that parking lot, and they were so excited about it,” Treviño said. “It was so sick that they were not only like, ‘Yeah, you can just have this; there are no conditions,’ but that they know what we’re going to do, and they’re about it.”
Members of the community seem to be excited about the potential of the new arts space.
“Almost off the bat, there are people hitting us up, either on my personal Instagram or the CV Collective Instagram, asking when can we start,” Treviño said. “It’s awesome to know that we’re not going to have to struggle as much once we get it rolling.”
Added Moreno: “It even looks like the community is very excited about the creativity that’s going to be right next door. There was actually somebody from the apartments right behind us who was like, ‘Y’all are doing art over here? My kid loves art. We really want to stop by.’”
The CV Collective wants to develop a consistent, diverse schedule of events and concerts.
“A steady stream of events and opportunities for community will make it so that we don’t fail,” Treviño said. “… We’re getting more and more shows, and making awesome connections with people who we didn’t know. … All you’ve got to do is mention one name, and then it’s a snowball effect, like, ‘Oh, I know these people from L.A.’ It’s going to be bringing what was an hour to two hours away from the valley to the Coachella Valley, to the city of Coachella.”
Jackson, from Hot Stuff Booking, stopped by as we wrapped our interview, and shared his excitement about the new space.
“Everybody prepare themselves for a new era,” Jackson said. “A DIY collective in the Coachella Valley is the first of its kind. So many people want you to take your shit elsewhere, because they think the Coachella Valley sucks—but there’s plenty right here.”
The CV Collective is located at 1030 Sixth St., No. 8, in Coachella. Learn more at www.instagram.com/thecvcollective.
