Santa Barbara Arts Collaborative

The Santa Barbara Arts Collaborative (SBAC) is an inclusive group of artists and arts supporters committed to sustaining and growing all forms of the arts in Santa Barbara. SBAC welcomes all to participate in the focused support of individual artists and arts organizations that contribute to the unique cultural ecology of our community. Since 2014, a major focus of the SBACs work has been the creation of a Community Arts Workshop (CAW). The CAW provides an accessible, affordable and flexible space adjacent to the downtown corridor that can be used for art making, rehearsal, set building, costume making and performance. It gives grassroots artists a home to strengthen their creative process, especially those artists and organizations with limited physical resources of their own. It also provides a hub for artistic inspiration and communal creativity in Santa Barbara, bridging boundaries and reducing the sense of isolation identified among local artists. The CAW has also allowed the SBAC to launch innovative programming designed to support the community of Santa Barbara. Opportunities like the Arts Residency Program and a recent series of Arts Classes have provided paid work for local artists, while engaging Santa Barbara citizens at large in the arts. Both programs welcomed novices to create and perform, building a sense of community and addressing critical social issues unique to our city.