Santa Barbara County of Arts & Culture

The Santa Barbara County Office of Arts & Culture is the local government agency supporting arts and culture across our region. As a State-Local Partner of the California Arts Council and the contracted arts agency for the City of Santa Barbara, we champion public art, invest through grants, support cultural programs, and create opportunities for artists and communities that inspire creativity and connect communities throughout the 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](https://sbac.ca.gov/county-of-santa-barbara-arts-culture-grants/) and the [City](https://sbac.ca.gov/about-city-of-santa-barbara-arts-and-culture/) 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. **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