The Story of the CAW
The original CAW concept video, published in 2014, with local organizations and artists voicing support for what was then a very incipient space. It is a joy to see how far we have come since then.
Over thirty years ago, a vision was cast for a community arts workspace, a space that would vitalize the Santa Barbara arts scene and the city as a whole by providing rehearsal, workshop, gallery and performance space for community arts—a space where people could come together, make and see great work, and spread inspiration. That vision waited thirty years, but today it is has become a reality.
The need for a facility like the CAW was first identified by the Regional Arts Master Plan developed by the City and County three decades ago in the 1980s, and over the years a few dedicated individuals from the Santa Barbara community kept that dream alive despite many obstacles. Then, starting in 2010 a CAW Task Force was created under the umbrella of the Santa Barbara Arts Collaborative—a collective of artists and arts supporters committed to sustaining and growing all forms of the arts in Santa Barbara. On April 8, 2014, the City of Santa Barbara signed a lease with the Arts Collaborative for 631 Garden St., the former site of a city motor pool, to create the Community Arts Workshop—two large buildings and four separate spaces for rehearsals, painting, sculpture, gallery shows, annual workshop space for the Santa Barbara Solstice Parade, and more. On September 25, 2018, the City extended the lease for 25 years.
Fundraising is underway and renovations are ongoing. Architect Paul Poirier designed open, flexible spaces that accommodate every creative use. All plans have made it through the permitting process. Ironwork artist David Shelton has painstakingly researched Greek, Roman, and Chumash mythology to create gates that pay homage to Winter and Summer Solstice, and contractor Dan Upton is hard at work renovating the space as funds are raised. Groups like Youth Interactive, Pianos on State, Downtown Santa Barbara, Lit Moon Theatre Company, Santa Barbara High School (VADA), the Pacific Pride Foundation, Lucidity Festival, the Squire Foundation, and many other groups are already collaborating with the SBAC to do programming at the CAW. There is a groundswell of excitement from organizations as diverse as Opera Santa Barbara, SB Dance Alliance, the Santa Barbara Foundation, the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, the City of Santa Barbara, New Noise, Boxtales Theatre Company, and more.
You can help make this vision a reality. If you're an artist or organization interested in creating programming in the space please contact us. If you have ideas on how to make the CAW great we'd love to hear from you.
The CAW cannot be an accessible space for artists without community support, your support. So please consider donating now.
Work is happening at the CAW. Come be a part of it.
Contact Us
If you'd like to use the CAW for a project:
Physical Address:
631 Garden Street
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 1414
Santa Barbara, CA 93102-1414
Follow Along
The Community Arts Workshop is a project of the Santa Barbara Arts Collaborative, a nonprofit committed to sustaining and growing all forms of the arts in Santa Barbara.
THE SANTA BARBARA ARTS COLLABORATIVE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Helene Schneider, President
Nathan Vonk, Vice President
Leon Olson, Treasurer
Sharyn Main, Secretary
Ginny Brush, Director
Judy Nilsen, Director
Laura Ragan, Director
Vanae Rivera, Director
Ian Smith, Director
Robert Skinner, Director
Dug Uyesaka, Director
Joseph Velasco, Director
Dana White, Director
Casey Caldwell, Executive Director
THE SANTA BARBARA ARTS COLLABORATIVE
BOARD OF ADVISORS
Yusuf Balogun
Marianne Clark
Rod Hare
Eric Lassen
THE SANTA BARBARA ARTS COLLABORATIVE
OUTREACH COMMITTEE
Tony Askew
Darian Bleecher
Ginny Brush
Casey Caldwell
Adrienne De Guevara
Terry Duffy
Linda Flegal
Andy Gartner
Christian Hali
Jane Jacobs
Jordan Killebrew
Kathy Leader
Carla Lejade
Daniel Linz
Diane Mackenzie
Jami Joelle Nielsen
Judy Nilsen
Paul Poirier
Laura Ragan
Lori Rafferty
Alex Ramirez
Vanae Rivera
Cecilia Rubio
Helene Schneider
Ian Smith
Emily Summers
Kai Tepper
Joseph Velasco
Wanda Venturelli
Robert Wenzel
Sheila Wenzel