Community Engagement
FIND US AT LA TIMES FESTIVAL OF BOOKS!
Join us at the University of Southern California for the 2026 LA Times Festival of Books April 18-19, 2026!
Booth 134 // Gold Zone
THE BIGGEST BOOK FESTIVAL IN THE COUNTRY.
150,000 attendees | 500+ authors & celebrities | 200+ author events | Fun for all ages
Find your spark at the L.A. Times Festival of Books, April 18-19 on the USC Campus. General Admission is free and the festival will also feature exclusive paid events with authors and celebrities.
Come visit us at Booth 134 for candy, prize drops, and everything you've ever wanted to know about the hottest MFA!
Did you already come by and realize we're the program for you? Apply here!
UCR Palm Desert Low-Residency MFA is dedicated not only to serving our students, but also our community. We understand that the arts are a critical resource to the world, and we have the responsibility as an institution to support those arts wherever possible. Whether we're sponsoring an event, appearing as presenters, or providing a platform for others to speak from, we are proud to be strong supporters of our community. See below for a few of the events and programs we've been a part of.
LA Times Festival of Books
Arts & Letters
Lit Flicks Film Series
Pride on the Page
Palm Springs Readers Festival
Palm Springs International Film Festival
Palm Springs International ShortFest
Coachella Valley Journalism Foundation's Know Your Rights Event
Sixty Seconds to Impact
Coachella Valley Storytellers Series - partnership with the Desert Sun
Open Book Podcast - partnership with College of the Desert/KCOD radio
And many, many more!
Interested in partnering with us?
Email palmdesertmfa@ucr.edu and let us know how we can show up for you today!