Ventura Music Festival — March Updates from VMF

VMF Community News

As we prepare to announce our exciting and diverse 2026 season, Ventura Music Festival welcomes Sonia Tower to the leadership team! In community news, we’re also collaborating with our friends from the Ventura Arts Alliance to raise more support for the arts in Ventura. Discover how you can get involved below! Finally, mark your calendars for May when tickets go on sale for the VMF Summer series. Full season announcement coming soon!

In Tower’s most recent position, she was appointed by President Biden to serve as the Director of Strategic Communications and Public Affairs at the National Endowment for the Arts where she served until January 2025. She was also appointed to a special detail working as Senior Advisor to the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities, where she was responsible for the relaunch of the Committee, working with Co-Chair Lady Gaga, and honorary Chair, First Lady Jill Biden.

Tower has a storied history with the Festival having worked as Cultural Affairs Manager for the City of Ventura, and being responsible for the development and launch of the Ventura Music Festival, which was conceived of as the City’s signature cultural event. Tower oversaw the early years of the Festival and then transitioned it to a separate 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

“We feel so fortunate to have such a highly qualified individual willing to step in and shepherd the Festival during this time of transition,” said Richard Reisman, Board Member for the Ventura Music Festival.

“I am honored to serve in the capacity of Interim Executive Director for the Festival,” said Sonia Tower. “The Ventura Music Festival is a valuable cultural asset which has been providing Ventura residents and visitors with superlative musical performances for thirty years, and nothing could give me more pleasure than to work with the dedicated and accomplished Board, staff, and volunteers to produce this year’s Festival.”

Tower will help guide the organization as it prepares for its upcoming 2026 season, continuing the festival’s tradition of bringing world-class music and arts education to Ventura County. Each year, the festival welcomes thousands of audience members to Ventura while also providing educational programs and free community events that expand access to the arts.

Last year, in response to arts advocacy efforts, the City of Ventura increased the funding for the Cultural Funding Grant Program (CFGP) for the first time in nearly 20 years. This was a wonderful development! The CFGP provides crucial general operating support to the many nonprofit arts organizations in the city. This year, the Ventura Arts Alliance is respectfully requesting that City Council further increase that grant program.

For context, in 2007 there were approximately $200K in CFGP dollars available to arts and culture organizations in Ventura, until the City dramatically reduced funding to $90K, the level at which it remained until 2025.

We know the arts build powerful communities, but arts and culture also play a pivotal role in a vibrant economy. Research demonstrates that for every dollar invested in the arts as much as five dollars is generated in government revenue. That’s amazing! And so we’re requesting the City increase the funding for the CFGP to $310,000, which reflects its historic funding adjusted for inflation.

We’re also urging the Council to fund and reestablish the Cultural Affairs Manager/Director position. The new General Plan includes a Cultural Element with an inspiring and extensive list of goals and deliverables. A dedicated Cultural Affairs Manager/Director with industry expertise will ensure the City leverages cultural assets to help achieve its economic goals.

Here’s where you come in.
Please download the letter linked below, and send it in an email to:

Your actions will make a big difference! A unified message coming from both arts organizations and the patrons who love our rich cultural offerings will be heard loud and clear. Thank you for your support and your consideration of this advocacy for the arts!