EXPLORE ONLINE SANTA BARBARA’S RICH VISUAL ART SCENE

Santa Barbara, California, is a secret art lovers paradise nestled between the Pacific Ocean and the Santa Ynez Mountains. Situated 92 miles north of Los Angeles and 332 miles south of San Francisco, Santa Barbara County is a thriving art community with thousands of well-known painters, sculptors, printmakers, and assemblage artists.

For over a hundred years artists have chosen to settle in this area known for its natural beauty and mild climate. Today is no different. Now, year around, the area now has galleries, studios, museums, and art events that feature the outstanding work of both past and present local artists. Some are world-renowned and others are just emerging.

To help you uncover these art resources a local non-profit, Santa Barbara Visual Arts (SBVA), has created a Web site at www.sbva.org, which lists and describes, up to a year ahead, events and art venues that are available for your enjoyment. The website provides comprehensive information about private and public galleries, museums, artists and their studios, art events, and art organizations across Santa Barbara County. And all this is updated weekly.

Planning a visit to the area? Click on the website and up comes an events calendar for the current month. If you are going to be there in a future month, click the list to the right and select the month of your planned trip. Up comes listings of all the know events for that period.

Since many art venues and organizations are slow to publish their events, the website is updated frequently. As you approach your travel dates you will want to revisit the website to see what new or revised listings have been posted.

The listings of venues cover almost every place that visual art may be seen within the County. Most listings provide online directions, opening hours, as well as telephone and email addresses.

If you want to see the work of a specific contemporary artist, you may wish to look at their listings of artists with private studios. Many require an appointment to visit their studio, so plan ahead.

Links are provided to assist you with accommodation and other local services.

September 27, 2006   Posted in: United States West