About The Santa Barbara County

Office of Arts & Culture

Advancing Arts & Culture Across Santa Barbara County

The Santa Barbara County Office of Arts & Culture (SBCOAC) is the local government agency dedicated to advancing arts and culture across Santa Barbara County. A division of the County’s Community Services Department, the Office is uniquely positioned at the intersection of local government, the creative sector, and community development.

For nearly 40 years, the County and the City of Santa Barbara have shared staff, leadership, and vision through this collaborative model, with the Office serving as the contracted arts agency for the City. SBCOAC also serves as the State-Local Partner to the California Arts Council, helping to implement statewide cultural policy and support regionally aligned initiatives.

About Our Team

Mission

To enrich the quality of life for all residents by cultivating a diverse, inclusive, and sustainable arts and culture ecosystem reflective of the people of Santa Barbara County.

Through public art commissions, exhibitions, grantmaking, policy coordination, and cultural programming, the Office supports artists, organizations, and communities throughout the region. Key programs include Poetry Out Loud, the City Poet Laureate, Pianos on State, and exhibitions at the Channing Peake Gallery, Santa Barbara City Hall Gallery, and the Betteravia Gallery.

SBCOAC is committed to:

Expanding equitable access to the arts across all communities
Empowering artists and cultural practitioners through support and investment
Strengthening partnerships between artists, local government, nonprofits, and the private sector
Convening stakeholders to promote cultural planning and shared impact
Advocating for the arts as essential to civic life, community resilience, and public well-being

We invite you to explore more about our work on behalf of the County of Santa Barbara and the City of Santa Barbara.

Meet the People Behind the Work

Dedicated to creativity and community, our staff bring diverse skills and perspectives to every project.

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Sarah York Rubin

Executive Director

Sarah York Rubin’s background in international arts and culture production includes establishing the DC Indie Music Fest, recording cartoon voiceovers for MTV and Comedy Central, hosting public radio talk shows, DJing, consulting for ACE hotel and the Carnegie Museum of Art, and writing for the Andy Warhol Museum.

From 2008-2016, she was Executive Director of Pittsburgh’s Hillman Center for Performing Arts. At The Hillman, she presented Grammy, Emmy, and Oscar-winning artists, and partnered with Warner Bros., 20th Century Fox, Lakeshore Entertainment, and Lifetime to host on-location filming. She worked with local youth leaders to establish a weekly Farmers Market and annual MLK Day of Service.

A Fulbright Scholar, Sarah received a B.A. from the University of Michigan Honors College, a M.A. from Carnegie Mellon University and an Executive Certificate in Nonprofit Management from Georgetown University’s School of Public Policy.

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Hannah Rubalcava

Grants and Contracts Manager

Hannah Rubalcava has lived and worked in Santa Barbara County for over 20 years and was born and raised on the Central Coast. Before coming to work for the County, Hannah served as a 4th District Arts Commissioner for two years and was the Executive Director of the Orcutt Children’s Arts Foundation for six years.

Hannah graduated with honors from Chico State University, where she received her Bachelor’s degree in Community and Commercial Recreation Management, and University of La Verne where she received her MBA with a concentration in Organizational Leadership.

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Tom Pazderka

Curator

Tom Pazderka became Curator for the County in 2023, having previously worked as Lead Preparator and Exhibitions Designer, a role he’s held since 2017. He is an interdisciplinary artist, painter, sculptor and writer. His work encompasses a wide range of disciplines and interests, from painting and sculpture to writing and performance.

In his role as Curator, Pazderka aids with exhibition design development and installation of works in galleries and public spaces. He also assists with the handling and movement of works in the County and City’s permanent collections and works on loan for gallery exhibitions. Pazderka’s expert installation skills have assisted with gallery exhibitions, design and public art installation countywide, including at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art, Museum of Contemporary Art- Santa Barbara and UCSB AD&A Museum.

Tom received his B.F.A. from Western Carolina University and his M.F.A. from University of California, Santa Barbara.

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Nicholas Ragheb

Program Specialist

Nicolas Ragheb has recently moved into the governmental arts and culture space after years as an academic researcher and university professor in the field of ethnomusicology. Prior to his current position he was working as the director of a university music program in the Republic of Cabo Verde in West Africa. He maintains an active career as a performing musician and teacher, is a dedicated woodworker, and has a passion for community-centered work in the cultural sector.

Nicholas received a B.S. in Psychology from Carnegie Mellon University, a M.Mus. in Ethnomusicology from the University of Texas at Austin, and a Ph.D. in Ethnomusicology from the University of California, Santa Barbara.

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Emily Donelan

Community Engagement Associate

Emily Donelan was born and raised in Santa Barbara County and graduated from UCSC in 2025 with a B.A. in politics and a minor in Middle Eastern and North African Studies. Emily is a passionate advocate for the arts and public policy. Before coming to the Office of Arts and Culture in 2023, Emily served as a research assistant to the Provost of Stevenson College at UCSC. In 2022, she was selected for the competitive Humanities Institute Experiential Travel Fellowship at UCSC and was granted the opportunity to travel to Egypt with a group of fellows and professors. Additionally, she was a selected as a Stevenson College Junior Fellow in 2024.

Emily plans to attend graduate school and pursue a career in public policy, with a focus on social programs and community development.

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Lyra Purugganan

Arts Installer

Lyra Purugganan joined the County’s Office of Arts & Culture in 2024 as an art installer. Born in Manila, Philippines and raised in Columbus, Ohio, they earned a BFA in Printmaking from The Ohio State University (2021) and an MFA from UC Santa Barbara (2024), where they also served as the 2024–25 CCS Teaching Fellow.

In this role, Lyra manages installation, art handling, and site preparation for galleries and public spaces, ensuring safe, precise, and thoughtful presentation. With a background in metals and fibers, their process is informed by a deep understanding of materials and craft sensibilities. Lyra maintains a sculptural practice within Santa Barbara’s arts community.

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Catlyn Semenza

Intern

Catlyn Semenza is a UC Santa Barbara student studying to acquire her bachelor’s degree in geography. Prior, she worked on her Associate’s Degree in Arts at Santa Barbara City College, where she received four AA degrees in Geography and various Liberal Arts.

Outside of the classroom, Catlyn loves to create artistic maps of both the real world and her imagination. Catlyn takes joy in being of assistance to the Office of Arts and Culture and loves the hands-on experience of public art installations.