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The Santa Barbara Arts Collaborative (SBAC) is a nonprofit committed to sustaining and growing all forms of the arts in Santa Barbara. Through long-term programs like the Community Arts Workshop, the Funk Zone Maps, Pianos on State, and in many smaller projects and collaborations, the SBAC works to sustain and grow the unique cultural ecology of our community.

Our Projects

Programs

The Community Arts Workshop

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The Community Arts Workshop provides workspace and venue space for the arts in Santa Barbara, a "blank canvas" for artists, thinkers, innovators, and creators to develop ideas, make connections, and build community.

The Funk Zone Map

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The Funk Zone Map is a printed and online arts and cultural directory that provides a guide to the Funk Zone Arts and Culture District.

Pianos on State

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Pianos on States has been a collaborative local tradition in Santa Barbara for over 10 years, placing pianos painted by local artists on State Street for anyone to play, spontaneously reintroducing music, art, and delight into people's everyday lives.

Art KIT!

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A business skills program is designed for artists looking to expand their careers by learning the business end of the Arts. 

The SBAC also frequently engages in collaborative projects, new endeavors, fiscal sponsorships, and experiments.

Follow along by joining our mailing list, and following us on Facebook and Instagram.

Fiscally sponsored projects are available here.

The SBAC welcomes all to participate in the focused support of local artists.

About

The Santa Barbara Arts Collaborative (SBAC) was originally organized as an ad hoc committee in 2007 in response to the changing landscape for arts funding in Santa Barbara. In response, a group of artists, arts organizations and concerned citizens came together to identify new and innovative ways to sustain the arts for future generations. In 2010, a 501(c)3 non-profit was formed to foster and facilitate collaboration and support economic sustainability of the unique cultural ecology of Santa Barbara.

 

Most of our activities are collaborations between SBAC and local artists, organizations, and individuals, or sponsorships of small arts programs including fiscal sponsorships, mentorships and grants.

The SBAC's largest program is the Community Arts Workshop (CAW). The CAW, created itself in collaboration with many local arts groups and City government, provides affordable workshop space and venue space in Santa Barbara where artists, performers, and students can inspire and be inspired. The CAW meets a vital need for space for local artists.

 

The Funk Zone Map, another long-running SBAC program, is an arts and culture directory for the Funk Zone Arts & Culture District, with 39 local galleries, art studios, wineries, and businesses participating.

 

Pianos on State, a collaborative tradition in Santa Barbara for over a decade, places pianos painted by local artists on State Street for anyone to play, spontaneously reintroducing music, art, and delight into people's everyday lives.

 

Other SBAC projects include a fiscal sponsorship program to incubate arts endeavors in the community, arts classes for working adults, the Ready to Hang community-wide gallery show, an online and in-person arts interview series with community leaders, and many other collaborative projects and programs.

THE SANTA BARBARA ARTS COLLABORATIVE

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Helene Schneider, President

Nathan Vonk, Vice President

Leon Olson, Treasurer

Sharyn Main, Secretary

Ginny Brush, Director

Judy Nilsen, Director

Laura Ragan, Director

Vanae Rivera, Director

Ian Smith, Director

Robert Skinner​, Director

Dug Uyesaka, Director

Joseph Velasco, Director

Dana White, Director

Casey Caldwell, Executive Director

THE SANTA BARBARA ARTS COLLABORATIVE

BOARD OF ADVISORS

Yusuf Balogun

Marianne Clark

Roderick Hare

Eric Lassen

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