Santa Barbara County Office of Arts & Culture

Santa Barbara County Office of Arts & Culture Governmental Arts Agency supporting a vibrant and sustainable local arts and culture community.

Governmental Arts Agency providing constituents an opportunity to participate in the arts and celebrate Santa Barbara's diverse cultural heritage.

đź“Ł Calling all Santa Barbara County high school teachers, administrators, and staff! School registration is now open for ...
08/20/2026

📣 Calling all Santa Barbara County high school teachers, administrators, and staff! School registration is now open for the 2026–27 Poetry Out Loud program.

Poetry Out Loud is a FREE national poetry recitation program that helps students strengthen public speaking skills, build confidence, and deepen their appreciation for literature. Students memorize and perform poems and have the opportunity to advance from their school to the county, state, and national levels.

🏆 At the Santa Barbara County competition, the county champion and first and second runners-up will receive gift card prizes. The county champion will also receive recognition from the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors and advance to the State Finals in Sacramento, with opportunities for additional prizes and college scholarship funds at the state and national levels.

🏫 All Santa Barbara County high school programs are welcome! Poetry Out Loud is open to public, private, charter, and homeschool programs. Teachers and school staff can facilitate the program through a class, elective, club, or after-school activity, with additional support from poet mentors available upon request.

đź“… School Registration Deadline: September 30, 2026
đź“… Deadline to Submit Winners of School Competition: October 30, 2026
🎤 County Competition: Wednesday, November 18, 2026 at the County Board of Supervisors Hearing Room in Santa Barbara

Learn more and register your school at sbac.ca.gov/poetry-out-loud/

📣 Important reminder: The deadline to apply for the City of Santa Barbara’s 2026 Cultural Arts Grants is coming up this ...
08/14/2026

📣 Important reminder: The deadline to apply for the City of Santa Barbara’s 2026 Cultural Arts Grants is coming up this Monday, August 17 at 5 p.m.!

Nearly $250,000 in funding is available to support local arts and cultural organizations, projects, events, and festivals through three grant categories:

🎨 Community Arts — up to $6,000
🏛️ Organizational Development — up to $15,000
🎭 Events & Festivals — up to $15,000

If you’re planning to apply, now’s the time to put the finishing touches on your application.

đź”— Learn more and apply at sbac.ca.gov/city-grants

Applications are now open for City of Santa Barbara Cultural Arts Grants!đź“… Deadline to apply is August 17Funding opportu...
07/01/2026

Applications are now open for City of Santa Barbara Cultural Arts Grants!

đź“… Deadline to apply is August 17

Funding opportunities include:
• 🎭 Community Arts Grants — Up to $6,000 for projects that expand arts access for all.
• 🌟 Organizational Development Grants— Up to $15,000 to strengthen nonprofit arts organizations' sustainability, capacity, and success.
• 🎉 Events & Festivals Grants— Up to $15,000 for events that contribute to Santa Barbara's cultural and economic vitality.

To be eligible, all applicants (including returning organizations) must attend one informational workshop:

• July 16, 12–1 p.m. (In Person, David Gebhard Meeting Room)
Register at https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/0197a83010a175d88f58a78f32e4d950

• August 5, 4–5 p.m. (Zoom)
Register at https://santabarbaracounty.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/8VdDzV7pSmiIK8g_3CKN_w

Nearly $250,000 is available to support programs that bring the arts to life throughout Santa Barbara.

Learn more, review the guidelines, and apply at sbac.ca.gov/city-grants

Photo courtesy of Mental Wellness Center

🎉 Congratulations to the 2026–27 Arts Making Impact Grant recipients!The County of Santa Barbara has awarded more than $...
06/16/2026

🎉 Congratulations to the 2026–27 Arts Making Impact Grant recipients!

The County of Santa Barbara has awarded more than $56,000 in AMI grant funding to 12 local organizations whose projects will expand access to arts and cultural experiences throughout the county. Funded initiatives include music therapy for individuals with disabilities, arts education for youth, dance programs for seniors, and free community performances and festivals.

Congratulations to:
✨ ArtLabbé Santa Barbara
✨ Boxtales Theatre Company
✨ Goleta Education Foundation
✨ Grace Fisher Foundation
✨ Lompoc Theatre Project
✨ Masq(p)arade!
✨ NewGrit
✨ Santa Barbara Arts Collaborative
✨ Santa Barbara Dance Institute
✨ Selah Dance Collective
✨ Viva Brazil
✨ Youth Arts Alive

These projects will bring meaningful arts opportunities to communities across Santa Barbara County, including Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, Lompoc, Guadalupe, Goleta, Isla Vista, Carpinteria, and the Santa Ynez Valley. Funding is provided through the Santa Barbara Bowl Foundation’s Community Arts Subsidy and administered by the Santa Barbara County Office of Arts and Culture on behalf of the County Arts Commission.

Photos Courtesy of 1) Grace Fisher Foundation and 2) Santa Barbara Dance Institute




Theatre.Project
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Thank you to everyone who joined us for the opening reception of “Post-Wild: Nature in the 21st Century” at Betteravia A...
05/22/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the opening reception of “Post-Wild: Nature in the 21st Century” at Betteravia Art Gallery in Santa Maria!

It was exciting to see so many community members come out to celebrate the work of 34 artists from across Santa Barbara County and to experience the incredible range of creativity represented in the exhibition.

A special thank you to the featured artists — and to their friends, families, and supporters — for helping make the evening so meaningful. We’re also deeply grateful to co-curator Laura-Susan Thomas for helping bring this exhibition to life.

“Post-Wild” remains on view Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Betteravia Art Gallery (511 E. Lakeside Pkwy.), featuring 54 works exploring nature, environmental change, urbanization, and humanity’s evolving relationship with the natural world.

05/19/2026

54 artworks. 34 local artists. One big night for contemporary art in Santa Maria.

Join us Thursday at 5 p.m. for the opening reception of Post-Wild: Nature in the 21st Century at Betteravia Art Gallery. From painting and ceramics to photography, digital media, and mixed media, this exhibition brings together emerging and established artists from across Santa Barbara County.

đź“Ť Betteravia Art Gallery (511 E. Lakeside Pkwy., Santa Maria)
đź“… Thursday, May 21
🕔 5–7 p.m.

Free and open to the entire community — come celebrate local artists and explore how nature is being reimagined in the 21st century.

05/18/2026

Many thanks to Oaxacreations Monos de Calenda and the talented musicians, performers and dancers for helping us bring the opening of the Bloomberg Asphalt Art Initiative with the City of Santa Barbara, and the artwork of Eddy Jimenez and Irene Ramirez, to life! ❤️

Join us Thursday, May 21, from 5 to 7 p.m. for the opening reception of “Post-Wild: Nature in the 21st Century” at Bette...
05/13/2026

Join us Thursday, May 21, from 5 to 7 p.m. for the opening reception of “Post-Wild: Nature in the 21st Century” at Betteravia Art Gallery (511 E. Lakeside Pkwy.) in Santa Maria.

We’re excited to share this exhibition because it brings together work from 34 artists living and creating across Santa Barbara County — from emerging artists to longtime members of the local arts community. Seeing this many local artists represented together in one show is something special.

Featuring 54 works across painting, ceramics, photography, digital media, and mixed media, “Post-Wild” explores nature, environmental change, urbanization, and humanity’s evolving relationship with the world around us.

Come meet featured artists, explore the exhibition, and celebrate the incredible creative talent here on the Central Coast. The reception is free and open to all community members.

Learn more at sbac.ca.gov/current-gallery-exhibitions.

05/11/2026

Local artists of all disciplines (MUSICIANS! WRITERS! DANCERS! FILMMAKERS! CULTURAL PRACTITIONERS!) New funding is available! đź’µ

The California Arts Council’s Individual Artists Fellowship program is now accepting applications for unrestricted funding (read: use it how you need to support your practice) for artists at different career stages:

• Emerging Artists — $5,000
• Established Artists — $10,000
• Legacy Artists — $50,000

The application deadline is Monday, June 1 at 5 p.m.

Eligible artists and culture bearers living in the following counties should apply by June 1 through the Central Coast regional application administereArts Council Santa Cruz Countyounty:

Arts Council Santa Cruz County
Arts Council for Monterey County
San Benito County Arts Council
SLO County Arts
Ventura County Arts Council
Santa Barbara County Office of Arts and Culture

Scan the QR code for program guidelines, eligibility information, and application details.

Need support with your California Arts Council grant application? Join virtual drop-in office hours with SBCOAC Grants M...
05/05/2026

Need support with your California Arts Council grant application? Join virtual drop-in office hours with SBCOAC Grants Manager Hannah Rubalcava for free Zoom-based application assistance.

These sessions are available for all applicants seeking guidance on California Arts Council grants, as well as the California Arts Council’s Independent Artist Fellowship.

Please note: Independent Artist Fellowship applications are due June 1 at 5 p.m.

Register using the QR code to receive your Zoom link or visit https://santabarbaracounty.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/pJGjzdYKRGWz2CA_AVARJA #/registration

Address

1100 Anacapa Street
Santa Barbara, CA
93101

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

Telephone

+18055683990

Website

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