2005/2006
ARTS COMMISSION KEY PROJECTS The Arts Commission in partnership with Americans for the Arts nationwide survey will coordinate and conduct an economic impact study of the nonprofit arts industry in Santa Barbara County. The purpose of this study is to assess the economic impact of spending by non profit arts organizations and the event-related spending of their audiences during 2005. The Commission will partner with the Santa Barbara Museum of Art, the Santa Barbara Conference and Visitors Bureau and Film Commission, Santa Maria Arts Council, Santa Barbara Symphony, and the UC Institute for Research for the Arts (UCIRA) at UCSB in completing this survey and creating an inventory of arts education and outreach programming county-wide. The Arts Commission and UCSB Arts & Lectures continues their sponsorship of performing arts outreach in communities throughout the region – Guadalupe, Orcutt, Santa Maria, Lompoc, Isla Vista, Goleta Eastside and Westside Santa Barbara and Carpinteria. The Arts Commission, Santa Barbara International Film Festival, UCSB Department of Film Studies, UCSB Arts & Lectures and the MAZA Artist Collective continue to produce the Latino Cinemedia Festival and the Youth Cinemedia Festival. The Arts Commission continues to partner with the Santa Barbara Downtown Organization to develop a consistent public relations and programming schedule to market the Historic Arts District in downtown Santa Barbara. Staff is involved with Downtown Staff and gallery owners in developing a “First Thursday” program to be initiated in September of 2006.
Partnering with the Pro-Youth Coalition the Arts Commission continues to support the City@Peace and Gang Risk Intervention Program (GRIP) programs that provide conflict resolution and arts programs to at-risk youth on the South Coast. The Arts Commission and the S.B. Museum of Art are working with the City Housing Authority to develop professionally led visual arts programs at the Eastside Library using private and public funds. The “Container Project” an additional partnership with the Commission, the Museum and University of California Institute for Research in the Arts (UCIRA) at UCSB is being developed to create mobile arts labs to be stationed in communities throughout the county. Using funds from the City of Santa Barbara the Arts Commission will re-grant over $425,000.00 to city-based cultural arts programs through three grants programs: Organizational Development Grants; Community Arts Grants; and Community Events & Festivals Grants. Funded in part by a grant from the Fund for Santa Barbara the “Faces from the Field” project placed youth from Guadalupe and Carpinteria with mentor artists Nell Campbell and Osiris Castaneda to create a documentary photo exhibit and video in response to “The Migrant Project” exhibition. The project culminated with exhibitions of the students’ work in the Lompoc public library, Guadalupe Arts Center and Carpinteria’s Step One Gallery. The Arts Commission organized a county-wide Arts Symposium in February 2006 for arts educators, non profit organizations, local foundations, artists and arts advocates to focus on arts education and outreach and foster a countywide arts education network. Guest presenters at the Solvang event were Bill Cirone, Superintendent of County Education Office and Catherine Cole, Associate Professor of Dramatic Art and Dance at UCSB. With City of Santa Barbara Redevelopment Agency funding, the Arts Commission will open the Community Arts Workshop in conjunction with a local non-profit organization scheduled for completion in May, 2007. When complete this central space will provide a place to build sets, operate community arts programs, organize festivals and be a hub for local artists. The site will be used prior to renovation for the Summer Solstice Workshop in May and June of 2006. The Arts Commission working with the City Arts Advisory Committee established the first “Business in Art Award” given to CASA Santa Barbara Magazine in September of 2005. |
The Arts Commission received a major collection of the over 70 contemporary works created by Santa Barbara based artists over the last 25 years. An archive of the collection has been created and a space renovated in the Courthouse to house the collection with appropriate security and archival storage conditions. The Barry Berkus and Family Art Collection, in memory of Gail Berkus inaugural exhibition in the Channing Peake Gallery will include gallery talks and a catalogue of works in the collection.
Partnering with the Santa Barbara News-Press and the S.B. Museum of Art, the Arts Commission implemented a $20,000 California Council for the Humanities grant – The New Okies. This photojournalism project resulted in exhibits and public receptions in both galleries, and a regional symposium about Santa Barbara County’s Mixtec farm workers. A bilingual brochure was produced in 2006 linking this exhibition to the Taking Root exhibition at the SB Museum of Art.
The Arts Commission in partnership with the Redevelopment Agency and the State of the Art Gallery Curatorial Committee will organize and mount an exhibition of public art on State Street for September of 2006. The exhibition will include the work of Tri-County artists selected from a Call for Proposals. The exhibition is part of a regional collaboration focusing on Santa Barbara contemporary art during the entire month of September.
The Arts Commission provided technical assistance and partnered with the Community Environmental Council (CEC) and the Downtown Organization to organize and mount the an exhibition of public art on State Street created by Santa Barbara based artists as part of a State wide conference. The Steelhead Festival focused public attention on creek cleaning and restoration of steelhead habitat.
In partnership with the Central Coast Filipino-American community the Commission has implemented a large scale mural in downtown Lompoc with local artists.
The Arts Commission has organized and scheduled two “Brown Bag” lunches in 2006 to be hosted by Supervisor Susan Rose. These lunches provide for informal discussions and updates with visual and performing arts community members.
The Arts Commission continues to operate and program two exhibition galleries – the Channing Peake in Santa Barbara and the Betteravia Gallery in Santa Maria. At least seven exhibits will be mounted in 2006 to 2007.
The Arts Commission continues its partnership with the Community Action Commission to mount two public exhibits Reflections on Poverty in the Faulkner Gallery at the Santa Barbara Public Library and at the Betteravia Gallery in Santa Maria.
The Arts Commission continues its partnership with the S.B. Museum of Art in producing StreetSmART, an annual workshop on public art involving area high school students, UCSB graduate students and local visual artists.
With private funding the Arts Commission in partnership with City TV is in production of a virtual public art tour utilizing a DVD and brochure to highlight the public art collection.
The Arts Commission will conserve and install the three-panel Celebrate Santa Barbara mural on the Granada Parking Garage upon completion.
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