Call for Art Opens for Betteravia Gallery Exhibition in Santa Maria

(SANTA MARIA, Calif.) – The Santa Barbara County Office of Arts and Culture and the Santa Barbara County Arts Commission invite Santa Barbara County artists to submit work to Post-Wild: Nature in the 21st Century, a juried exhibition to be presented at the Betteravia Art Gallery (511 Lakeside Pkwy, Santa Maria). The Call for Art will be open online from Jan. 19 through Feb. 15, 2026, and there is no fee to apply. Artists selected for the exhibition will be notified in early March, with a public opening reception planned for May 21.

The exhibition will examine how contemporary artists depict, interpret, or challenge ideas of nature in the 21st century. It will feature works that reflect present-day conditions through traditional or digital media, photography, or conceptual approaches addressing environmental change, urbanization, and human impact.

“Post-Wild explores how deeply nature and landscape shape the human experience, and how changes to them, whether human-made or natural, are felt across our community,” said Robert Dickerson, Chair of the Santa Barbara County Arts Commission. “This ambitious exhibition provides opportunities for emerging and established artists to confront the environmental realities directly in front of us, making its impact both timely and incredibly important.”

This exhibition is limited to small works. All submissions will be evaluated by a review panel including representatives from the County Arts Commission, Allan Hancock College, and the Santa Barbara County Office of Arts and Culture. Complete submission guidelines as well as the online application are available at https://cosantabarbara.box.com/s/5lzg4gaxlb1l79vq1otums1vdhh192ew.

About the Santa Barbara County Office of Arts & Culture

The Santa Barbara County Office of Arts & Culture (SBCOAC) serves as the local governmental umbrella for arts and culture projects and programs. The SBCOAC represents a remarkable longstanding partnership between the County of Santa Barbara and the City of Santa Barbara and serves as a State-Local Partner of the California Arts Council. Through robust public-private partnerships, the SBCOAC seeks to support and catalyze art, culture, and creative expression. For more information, visit www.sbac.ca.gov.