Modernism Week

Mid-century architecture and design event in Palm Springs, California, United States

Modernism Week

Modernism Week in February 2022

Location|

* Palm Springs, California

Website| http://www.modernismweek.com/

Modernism Week is a 501(c)(3) organization based in Palm Springs, California that provides public education programming fostering knowledge and appreciation of modern architecture, the mid-century modern architecture and design movement, the Palm Springs School of Architecture, as well as contemporary considerations surrounding historic preservation, cultural heritage, adaptive reuse, and sustainable architecture.[1] Modernism Week provides annual scholarships to local students pursuing college educations in the fields of architecture and design and supports local and state organizations' efforts to preserve and promote the region's modern architecture.[2] The organization is centered in the Coachella Valley, which is home to a significant collection of extant residential and commercial buildings designed in the mid-century modern vernacular.[3]

Modernism Week architectural bus tour in Palm Springs

## Description

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The primary event for the organization is an annual, eleven-day, region-wide advocacy and educational festival called "Modernism Week" which is held each February. Events are produced by Modernism Week and partner organizations and include symposia, films, lectures, tours, and a variety of opportunities to access architecturally significant buildings not otherwise available to the public.[4] Educational programs explore the mid-century modern era as it applies to architecture, design, landscape, preservation, and culture. In addition to the primary event held each February, Modernism Week offers Modernism Week-October (previously called the "Fall Preview"), a four-day event held each October.[5] This "mini-Modernism Week" was developed to provide additional educational opportunities to seasonal visitors.[6]

Mid-century modern house in Palm Springs

## History

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Modernism Week began in 2006 as an adjunct to two existing programs exploring mid-century architecture and design: the Palm Springs Modernism Show & Sale and the annual Palm Springs Art Museum Architecture & Design Council Symposium.[7][8] The National Trust for Historic Preservation named Palm Springs, California to its 2006 list of America's Dozen Distinctive Destinations, an annual list highlighting cultural tourism destinations for architecture.[9] In 2009, Palm Springs was included on the List of Preserve America Communities and was welcomed to the program in a letter by then-First Lady Michelle Obama.[10] In 2009, Modernism Week became a California 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.[11] In 2015, a physical headquarters for the event was launched enabling visitors to gather at a central location throughout the festival. Dubbed, CAMP (Community And Meeting Place), this festival hub provides services and programs throughout the festival including serving as a depot for bus tours, educational programming, ticket sales, demonstrations, social events, and the distribution of general information.[12]

## Attendance

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From 2012 to 2018, annual attendance increased from 12,000 to 125,000. The number of programmed events in 2018 was 350 with attendees representing the 50 United States and 19 countries.[13][14] In 2019, attendance increased 20% over 2018 to an estimated 152,000 participating in over 370 events resulting in an estimated economic impact for the Coachella Valley of $57 million. International visitors from 25 countries participated alongside attendees from all 50 United States. California residents accounted for the majority of attendees (54 percent) representing 445 of 482 cities in California.[15][16][17] In February 2020, attendance was estimated at 162,000 across 375 events resulting in an estimated economic impact of $61 million.[18] Attendees represented all 50 United States and 25 countries.[19]
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic 2021 and 2022 programming shifted to virtual and later, reduced in-person programming achieving a local economic impact of $50 million in 2022 as state restrictions associated with the pandemic lifted.[20][21][22][23][24][25][26]
In 2023, the 11-day February festival attracted an estimated 105,477 attendees who participated in more than 350 events generating a local economic impact of $55 million. Attendees represented all 50 states and 25 countries.[27][28] In February 2024, the 11-day festival attracted more than 130,000 attendees representing all fifty US states and twenty-four countries including Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Germany, and France. Attendees came from 440 of 482 cities in California, or 91% of all California cities. The festival generated an estimated economic impact of $68 million for Coachella Valley-area hotels, shops, restaurants, and other businesses.[29]

## Notable speakers

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* Todd Oldham in 2015 [30] and 2020 [31] and 2025 [32]
* Martyn Lawrence Bullard in 2018 [33]
* Moshe Safdie in 2019 [34][35][36]
* Daniel Libeskind in 2020 [37][38]
* Barbara Bestor in 2022 [39][40]
* Jeanne Gang in 2022 [41]
* Thom Mayne in 2023 [42]
* Barry Bergdoll in 2024 [43][44]
* Dr. Raymond Neutra in 2025 [45]

## Notable Palm Springs-region architects, designers, and developers of the era

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* Barry Berkus
* Buff, Smith and Hensman
* Richard Lee Dorman
* Richard Neutra
* John Lautner
* Donald Wexler
* Albert Frey
* William Krisel
* Paul Trousdale
* William Francis Cody
* John Porter Clark
* Howard Lapham
* Raymond Loewy
* Wallace Neff
* Alexander Construction Company
* E. Stewart Williams
* Lloyd Wright
* A. Quincy Jones
* William Haines
* Arthur Elrod
* Rudolph Schindler
* Paul Revere Williams
* Hugh M. Kaptur
* John Carl Warnecke
* Erle Webster and Adrian Wilson[46][47]
* Walter S. White
* John Elgin Woolf
* William Pereira
* Victor Gruen
* Craig Ellwood

## Gallery

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* Mid-century modern home built by the Alexander Construction Company, Palm Springs, California

* Coachella Valley Savings, Palm Springs, 1960 by E. Stewart Williams

* Frank Sinatra's Twin Palms Estate, Palm Springs, 1947 by E. Stewart Williams

* Interior of Elvis Presley honeymoon house, Palm Springs

* Albert Frey's Tramway Gas Station, 1965, now the Palm Springs Visitor Center

* Palm Springs City Hall, 1952 by Albert Frey

* Palm Springs mid-century bank building, 1959, by Rudi Baumfeld

## External links

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Modernism Week.

* Official website

## References

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1. ^ "Modernism Week Attendance Increases by 30% in Thirteenth Year". Desert Charities News. 8 March 2018. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
2. ^ "Modernism Week Helps Local Community Organizations Raise Funds". Desert Charities News. 31 May 2017. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
3. ^ Brown, Patricia Leigh (25 February 2015). "In Mecca of Modernism, a New Pack of Devotees". The New York Times. Retrieved 15 April 2018.
4. ^ Boone, Lisa (16 January 2018). "What you Don't Want to Miss at Modernism Week 2018". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
5. ^ "Modernism Week October 2022". Docomomo US. 17 September 2022. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
6. ^ "Modernism Week Fall Preview adds Fourth Day". Palm Springs Life. 2 August 2017. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
7. ^ Arkin, Michael (6 October 2023). "How Modernism Week Started in Palm Springs: An Oral History". Palm Springs Life. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
8. ^ Kremer, Lydia (20 December 2015). "Modernism Week's Beginnings Forged by Creative Thinkers". Palm Springs Life. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
9. ^ "National Trust Promotes Heritage Tourism with Annual List of America's Dozen Distinctive Destinations". itravel Magazine. PR Newswire. 1 March 2006. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
10. ^ "Preserve America Communities". preserveamerica.gov. Preserve America. 7 October 2009. Retrieved 15 April 2018.
11. ^ Smith, Andrea (3 February 2017). "Check Out Incredible 1950s and '60s Architecture in Palm Springs During Modernism Week". Lonely Planet. Retrieved 15 April 2018.
12. ^ Kremer, Lydia (23 January 2015). "Modernism Week Makes CAMP with New Event Headquarters". Palm Springs Life. Retrieved 12 March 2019.
13. ^ Barkas, Sherry (8 March 2018). "Modernism Week Attendance Climbs 30%; Brings Estimated $47.25 in Revenue". The Desert Sun. Retrieved 15 April 2018.
14. ^ Reyes, Jesus (9 March 2018). "Modernism Week 2018 sees Rising Attendance, revenue for the Coachella Valley". The Desert Sun. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
15. ^ "Modernism Week 2019 Attracts 150,000+". Palm Springs Life. 8 March 2019. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
16. ^ "Modernism Week Added Almost $60 million to the Desert Economy This Year". MyNewsLa.com. 8 March 2019. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
17. ^ "Modernism Week Added Nearly $60 Million to the Local Economy this Year". KESQ News. 8 March 2019. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
18. ^ "One for the Record Books". Palm Springs Life. 21 April 2020. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
19. ^ "One for the Record Books". Palm Springs Life. 21 April 2020. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
20. ^ Martinez, Taylor (13 October 2020). "Modernism Week Fall Preview To Be Held Virtually Starting Thursday". NBC Palm Springs. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
21. ^ Throwpay, Caitlin (14 October 2020). "Modernism Week Fall Preview Online Experience includes virtual home tours and a live happy hour". KESQ News. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
22. ^ Gunts, Edward (2 April 2021). "Adjusting for COVID, Palm Springs Modernism Week scales back and shifts to April". The Architect's Newspaper. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
23. ^ "Modernism Week Moves Dates to April 2021". Palm Springs Life. 30 November 2020. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
24. ^ Cutchin, James (21 May 2021). "Palm Springs airport April travel up 20x from pandemic low". The Desert Sun. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
25. ^ "Modernism Week Announces Attendance, Economic Impact Of Festival". Patch. 10 May 2021. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
26. ^ "Modernism Week 2022 attracts nearly 100,000 visitors". Palm Springs Life. 23 March 2022. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
27. ^ "Modernism Week reports record attendance and community economic impact". Palm Springs Tribune. 24 March 2023. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
28. ^ "Modernism Week organizers say 11-day February event had record attendance". The Palm Springs Post. 23 March 2023. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
29. ^ "Modernism Week Reports Increased Attendance and Community Economic Impact". Uken Report. 19 March 2024. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
30. ^ "Todd Time". Palm Springs Life. 30 January 2015. Retrieved 19 November 2018.
31. ^ "Man of Color". Palm Springs Life. 19 December 2019. Retrieved 24 February 2020.
32. ^ "Modernism Week Announces February 2025 schedule". Palm Springs Tribune. 24 October 2025. Retrieved 4 June 2025.
33. ^ "Palm Springs: A Modernist Paradise". Los Angeles Times. 9 February 2018. Retrieved 19 November 2018.
34. ^ "Moshe Safdie says ideas behind Habitat '67 have come full circle". Desert Sun. 15 February 2019. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
35. ^ "Moshe Safdie to give keynote lecture at 2019 Modernism Week". The Architect's Newspaper. 2 January 2019. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
36. ^ "How Palm Springs Modernism Week Became an Architecture and Design Juggernaut". Metropolis Magazine. 22 February 2019. Retrieved 12 March 2019.
37. ^ "Daniel Libeskind is at the 'Edge of Order'". KCRW. 18 February 2020. Retrieved 19 February 2020.
38. ^ "Palm Springs Modernism Week Announces 2020 Festival Schedule". The Blunt Post. 2 January 2020. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
39. ^ "Don't Miss These 13 Events At Modernism Week in Palm Springs". The Los Angeles Times. 16 February 2022. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
40. ^ "Back To The Future". Palm Springs Life Magazine. 20 January 2022. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
41. ^ "Jeanne Gang, MAD Architects, Rod Serling, and more "headline" Palm Springs' 2022 Modernism Week". The Architect's Newspaper. 22 November 2021. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
42. ^ "Modernism Week 2023". Palm Springs Life Magazine. 1 November 2022. Retrieved 1 November 2022.
43. ^ "Modernism Week Announces February 2024 Schedule". Palm Springs Tribune. 23 October 2023. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
44. ^ "Modernism Week Goes Disco for Opening Night". The Desert Sun. 8 March 2024. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
45. ^ "Modernism Week in Palm Springs Offers Wide Range of Educational Programs and Films". www.prweb.com/. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
46. ^ "California Art & Architecture: Ship of the Desert Palm Springs". jetsetmodernist.tumblr.com. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
47. ^ Baker, Christopher (2008). Explorer's Guide: Palm Springs & Desert Resorts: A Great Destination. New York, NY: The Countryman Press. p. 91\. ISBN 978-1-58157-048-9.