business skills
workshops
for artists
2025 Workshop Schedule
Workshop 5: Marketing & Promotions for Creatives
A hands-on workshop and discussion
Lauren Gonzales
Santa Barbara Airport
Cecilia Martini-Muth
Lobero Theatre
Alex Ramirez
Desmadre Media
Art KIT: Marketing & Promotions for Creatives hosts three panelists, Lauren Gonzales of the Santa Barbara Airport, Cecilia Martini Muth of the Lobero Theatre, and Alex Ramirez of Desmadre Media. Our experts are generously donating their time to discuss topics like how to define your work, finding your target audience, making decisions about how to sell your work, and identifying a budget and strategy for getting your work out into the world.
About the Panelists
Lauren Gonzales is an 805 native, born in Santa Barbara and raised in Carpinteria. She's spent most of her career in marketing and communications, working in a variety of industries ranging from sports (Los Angeles Dodgers) to animals (Santa Barbara Zoo). She now serves the City of Santa Barbara as the Marketing Supervisor for the Santa Barbara Airport.
Outside of the airport, Lauren is also a working photographer, specializing in family, portrait, and wedding photography. You can also find her pouring beer and wine at Santa Barbara Bowl part time.​
Cecilia Martini-Muth, is the Director of Marketing and Communications at the Lobero Theatre Foundation and has been a freelance design and marketing contractor for more than 20 years.
She earned her BFA in Dance from UCSB and has been associated with many non-profit organizations and the performing arts world for 30+ years.
Alex Ramirez is a Santa Barbara based creative, designer, and community organizer. He is the founder of Desmadre Media, a collective dedicated to uplifting local talent and fostering inclusive community events. Through Desmadre Media, Alex has successfully organized multiple events in Santa Barbara, such as the Backyard Boogie, The Goodland Sets, The Funktion, and, more recently, The Ortega Park Jam, bringing together artists, musicians, and small businesses to celebrate creativity and community.
Ramirez also runs Foundation Press, a screen printing and design studio, and serves as Creative Director for Goodland Tattoo, where he leads projects ranging from apparel lines to art installations and fundraisers. His work blends design, branding, and storytelling with a focus on culture, identity, and positive impact.
Sunday, September 14th, 1 - 3:30pm
The CAW (Community Arts Workshop)
631 Garden Street
Santa Barbara, CA
$10
More information to be announced
Workshop 6: Archiving & Pricing Your Work
Sunday, October 19th, 1 - 3:30pm
The CAW (Community Arts Workshop)
631 Garden Street
Santa Barbara, CA
$10
More information to be announced
Past Workshops 2025
Workshop 1: Career Planning & Successful Time Management
A hands-on workshop and discussion
featuring...
Madi Manson
Loud Flower Art Co
Adrienne De Guevara
Pulpo ArtLab
Career Planning and Successful Time Management is a two part workshop. The first half of the session offers a hands-on exercises designed to offer artists practical tools for developing an achievable plan for accomplishing career aspirations. The second half of the workshop will be a discussion with Madi Manson of Loud Flower Art Co who will offer her personal experience as a working artist and business owner.
Sunday, March 9th, 1 - 3:30pm
The CAW (Community Arts Workshop)
631 Garden Street
Santa Barbara, CA
$10
Workshop 2: Portfolios, Reels, Demos & Artists Statements
A handson workshop and panel discussion with:
Armando Ramos
SBCC Sculpture Faculty
Chris Ulivo
SBCC Painting Faculty
Portfolios, reels, demos, and artist statements are essential tools for communicating your creative work. A well-crafted portfolio isn’t just a collection of projects—it’s a powerful introduction to your artistic identity. It highlights your technical skills while telling a compelling story, showcasing your unique perspective, and forging an emotional connection with your audience.
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In this workshop and panel discussion, we’ll explore the key stages of portfolio building, uncover strategies for finding your unique voice, and examine the various scenarios where portfolios and artist statements play a crucial role.​​
Sunday, April 6th, 1 - 3:30pm
The CAW (Community Arts Workshop)
631 Garden Street
Santa Barbara, CA
$10
Workshop 3:
Grant Writing, Funding, and Residencies
Taught by Adrienne De Guevara
The first half of the workshop will delve into the questions about what motivates us to search and apply for grants and residencies? We will cover the different types of grants and how to choose which to apply for, the elements of a grant application, how to structure your narrative, and understanding the role of fiscal sponsorships. In the second half we will discuss alternate ways of funding creative projects.
Sunday, June 8th, 1 - 3:30pm
Paseo Nuevo #311
$10
Workshop 4: Business and Legal Considerations
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Annette Jorgensen
SBA Business Development Officer
American Riviera Bank
Casey Summar
LFNP Managing Partner
Ian Smith
Stradling Law
Art KIT: Business & Legal Considerations hosts three panelists, Annettee Jorgensen, Ian Smith, and Casey Summar. Our experts are generously donating their time to discuss topics like copyright, contracts, tax structures, basic budgeting and small business loans. Artists will learn to understand the basic parameters of legal ownership of their work by hearing from expert lawyers in the field. The workshop will give detailed guidance on how to protect your Intellectual Property, look at contracts discerningly, and to understand budgeting and loans. The afternoon session will delve deeper into more specific scenarios.
Sunday, July 20th, 1 - 3:30pm
The CAW (Community Arts Workshop)
631 Garden Street
Santa Barbara, CA
$10
The Moody
Family
The Art Collaborative is thankful for the support it receives for this program that allows artists to receive Art KIT training at an affordable cost. This vital for a healthy creative economy.