Santa
Barbara County Arts Commission Announces The Organizational Development Grant Program allows
organizations flexibility in utilizing this grant to sustain cultural
progress during this difficult economic period. Innovative audience
development programs in all artistic disciplines will be a part
of this grant process. Organizations that wish to apply must be
non-profit and be located in the City of Santa Barbara. The 2008-2009 grantsare available on-line on April 21, 2008. The deadline
for 2008 - 2009 Organizational Development grant is Friday, June 6, 2008. Word Application PDF Application Applications
available at the offices of the Arts Commission located
in the 3rd floor Rotunda Tower of the County Courthouse,
1100 Anacapa Street. Office hours are Monday through
Friday from 9:00 am ‚ 3:00 pm. If you would like
more information on any of these programs, or if you
wish to have an application sent via e-mail send a message
to gardy@co.santa-barbara.ca.us.
Santa Barbara has significantly more nonprofit arts organizations than any other city in the state. No city of its size has as vast array of arts programs as Santa Barbara. In 1982 using $12,000 from the California Arts Council the Santa Barbara County Arts Commission began granting public funds to local nonprofit arts organizations. Prior to that the City of Santa Barbara had been funding a few arts organizations through its Community Promotions Funds after the Neighborhood Arts project at the Center for Community Education published a small pamphlet on how to use the arts to draw visitors to Santa Barbara. In 1996 the Arts Commission pulled together funds from the James Irvine Foundation, the City of Santa Barbara and the Santa Barbara Foundation to provide Audience Development and Artist-in-Residence grants. This three-year Art in Civic Culture program brought $1,350,000 to artists and arts organizations until 1999. Performing groups like BOXTALES, the Santa Barbara Chamber Orchestra, and Ensemble Theater all benefited from these funds. Until 2003 the County Arts Commission annually funneled over $100,000 in California Arts Council funding to area school districts for cultural programs while providing technical assistance to many area artists and arts organizations seeking state funding as well. For the last three years the California Arts Council has not been funded by the state. Arts organizations in Santa Barbara County that annually received an additional $250,000 in California Arts Council funds also lost much needed grant money. Over the last twenty years Santa Barbara has developed an unequaled cultural life for a city of its size and the consistent support from the Arts Commission’s grants program has been an essential part of support for nearly every area arts organization. While many private foundations in Santa Barbara support the arts, none are exclusively arts focused. With less than $500,000 to allocate each year the Arts Commissions City Arts Grants program leads the way in the number and total amount of grants to the arts. “The City of Santa Barbara has a broad policy of support for the arts that is rooted in over 20 years of city planning, public and private funding and active partnerships,” says retired Art Commission Executive Director Patrick Davis. “We can weather the drastic cuts in state funding with a coordinated effort that includes facility development and private support for small and mid-sized groups and artists and a commitment to arts education in every community.”
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