About SBVAA
This website is offered as a public service by the Santa Barbara Visual Arts Alliance (SBVAA), a nonprofit organization. Founded in 2001, it has a mission to promote, locally, nationally, and internationally, the rich visual arts resources of Santa Barbara County.
In addition, SBVAA is dedicated to promoting opportunities for Santa Barbara artists, encouraging the creation of art, generating stimulating dialog about aesthetic issues, plus deepening the knowledge and the appreciation of all the visual arts.
Funded in part by the Santa Barbara Community Events & Festivals Program, this website uses funds provided by the City of Santa Barbara in partnership with the Santa Barbara County Arts Commission, plus membership fees from its Members.
As an umbrella organization, SBVAA brings together most of the various arts groups that function within Santa Barbara County. Currently this comprises about 100 members including museums, galleries, studios, art associations, universities, colleges and other visual art related organizations, plus many individual artists with studios.
SBVAA sponsors and manages this extensive public online database of Santa Barbara County art related events, art venues, public art, art organizations, and artists who open their studios to public visits. The database is updated every few days and has grown to the point it attracts many thousands of online visitors who want up-to-date information about what visual art events may be seen in the local community.
Controlled by a working Board, SBVAA consists of various outsourced functions provided by volunteers and part time subcontractors. The members of the Board volunteer their time to steer the organization and to each oversee the various aspect of its operation. Click here for information on volunteering opportunities.