Dear Friend of SBMA,
We've been listening – and are now offering you the convenient hours, and more of the world-class
exhibitions and dynamic
community,
family,
school, and
children's programs you requested. From the photography exhibitions
Vantage Point to
Portrayal/Betrayal, to the renovation of the
Asian Galleries, to a presentation of works from our signature
American art collection, the Santa Barbara Museum of Art strives to integrate art into the lives of people.
The Santa Barbara Museum of Art serves over 40,000 members of our community each year through our renowned
in-school,
after-school and
art education outreach programs serving both school children and adults. The Museum also trained over 1,100 of our community's public school teachers last year in how to use the visual arts to teach across the curriculum. These teachers have become our partners in bringing visual-arts education into the lives of public school students – young people who might not have otherwise experienced the transformative power of great works of art. In this difficult economy, we believe there is no better way to leverage educational resources.
SBMA is committed to helping people throughout the community connect to the world around them through art. This summer, our Art in Motion program, which brings hands-on, creative art activities to homeless or at-risk children and their families, broadened its reach to include young adults by collaborating with Santa Barbara City College's single parent program, called SPARC, and Transitions, the college's program for students who are on probation or have recently been paroled.
We are committed to making the Museum accessible to all. Through market research conducted last year, SBMA learned something new. We found that an overwhelming number of people favored extended hours at the Museum one night during the week. As the result of a generous grant from JPMorgan Chase, SBMA is now open every Thursday evening from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. for free. It is our hope that the community, especially families, will begin to think of Thursday evenings as a time to explore the art and culture that Santa Barbara has to offer. Additionally, SBMA has established a new admissions policy, the first in the county, through which students (kindergarten through college), teachers (kindergarten through high school), and active military personnel can always enter the museum free of charge.
Sincerely yours,
Larry J. Feinberg
Robert and Mercedes Eichholz Director
and Chief Executive Officer
P.S. Please click the link below to contribute online or to print and mail your tax-deductible contribution to SBMA's Museum Fund for Excellence today. I hope I can count on your new or renewed support. Your gift does make a difference.
