City of Santa Barbara Arts & Culture

Community Events and Festivals Committee

The City of Santa Barbara recognizes arts and culture as vital to the community’s identity, economy, and quality of life. Through sustained public investment and civic leadership, the City supports cultural policy development, public art, community programming, grants, and advisory committees that strengthen and sustain the local arts ecosystem.

These programs, services, and initiatives are developed and administered through the City’s longstanding partnership with the Santa Barbara County Office of Arts & Culture.

Cultural Arts Grant Programs

To support a vibrant cultural community and ensure access to the arts for all, the City of Santa Barbara invests nearly $250,000 each year in local organizations through its Arts and Culture Grants Program. The program is proudly administered by the Office of Arts & Culture on the City’s behalf.

The City offers three grant programs, each serving a different purpose and designed to support artists, organizations, and community events.

Annual Funding Opportunities

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Community Arts
Grant

Supports arts programming, projects, and community-based creative activities.

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Organizational Development Grant

Provides operational and capacity-building support for nonprofit arts organizations.

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Community Events & Festivals Grant

Supports public events and festivals that celebrate Santa Barbara’s cultural vitality.

Learn More about City Grants

Visual Arts

The City of Santa Barbara supports visual arts programs that enhance public spaces, foster community connection, and make arts experiences accessible throughout the city. Through partnership with the Office of Arts & Culture, the City curates gallery exhibitions, oversees public art projects, and stewards the City Art Collection.

Explore Visual Arts Programs

The City supports a range of visual arts initiatives that enhance public spaces and expand access to the arts:

View Gallery Exhibitions

Explore Public Art Projects

Browse the City Art Collection

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Advisory Committees

The Santa Barbara City Council appoints members to serve on advisory committees that support the City’s investment in arts and culture. These representatives serve as civic liaisons and ambassadors for the City’s diverse cultural community, making policy and grant funding recommendations to City Council.

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Arts Advisory Committee

This committee also serves as the grant review panel for the Community Arts and Organizational Development grant programs, evaluating proposals that support programs and projects designed to expand opportunity and strengthen Santa Barbara’s arts and culture sector.

View Arts Advisory Committee agendas, minutes, committee roster, and additional information.

Community Events and Festivals Committee

This committee serves as the grant review panel for the City’s Community Events & Festivals program, evaluating proposals and recommending funding for public events that celebrate Santa Barbara’s cultural vitality and promote the City as a vibrant arts and culture destination.

View Community Events & Festivals Committee agendas, minutes, committee roster, and additional information.

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Programs

The City supports a variety of programs that highlight creative excellence, recognize community leadership, and celebrate the role of the arts in shaping Santa Barbara’s cultural identity. Explore the opportunities below to learn more.