There is a tremendous sense of possibility in Santa Barbara. Creative people, full of entrepreneurial spirit, come to the Community Arts Workshop all the time. They are attracted to the space’s openness, and especially its affordability. Santa Barbara can be stiflingly expensive, and sometimes slow to embrace change. The Community Arts Workshop has developed a culture of openness and mentorship—staff with the vital technical and professional skills, committees and board members ready to assist and mentor, and tools and resources to help those projects in need. With our limited budget and staff it can be difficult to extend the support that some projects may require. Recognizing a gap, we created the Opening Doors Fund, allowing us to fundraise specifically to give additional staff attention and subsidies to first-time organizers and emerging artists for additional support in realizing their projects. 

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At the Community Arts Workshop, we the advantage of a $1/year lease from the City and a lean staffing and equipment model—our pricing is affordable and we have developed a culture of openness and mentorship—staff with the vital technical and professional skills; committees and board members ready to assist and mentor, and tools and resources to help those who’ve need it.

Looking toward the future, we are working to create a pool of funding that will offer further mentorship, use fee subsidies, and assistance with emerging ideas, and grants support.