When I first started working for Arts & Lectures last year, I began noticing that
the city of Santa Barbara is home to many art galleries and creative workspaces. There is so much talent in this city. I had the opportunity to witness the creation of art first hand when I worked at a VIVA event inside the Santa Barbara Museum of Art. As someone who has witnessed the amazing things that SBMA presents to the community of Santa Barbara, it saddens me that they, along with other museums and art galleries, are currently closed. With the stay at home orders and strict practices of social distancing, COVID-19 has left many artists without a job or source of income. Innovative spaces like the Santa Barbara Museum of Art has had to make the hard decision to remain closed to the public until it is safe to open again. Artists, museum workers, and gallery owners understand that the health and safety of Santa Barbara is the most important factor in their decision to remain shut down. Sadly with these closures, hundreds of events have been canceled throughout Santa Barbara including writing gallery workshops at SBMA and lectures from talented artists like Edgar Arceneaux and Tiffany Bell. With galleries and museums shut down, there are financial burdens and the art community has been hit hard.
Similar to the Santa Barbara Museum of Art, La Cumbre Center for Creative Arts has also had to put their business on hold for the time being. La Cumbre Center, located on State Street, has three galleries that house spaces for eight artists each. This Center is right next to the outdoor mall on State Street and has been responsible for educating the citizens of Santa Barbara about art through their budget-friendly drawing classes that are open to the public and, by hosting performance pieces put on by SBCC. Lyz Rotham, a member of the Center, has embodied the vision of La Cumbre, “to make La Cumbre Center for Creative Arts a haven for members of the community seeking to connect with their unique creative voices”, by working to create a project inspired by the tragedies that have ensued from COVID-19. This project will serve as a symbolic gesture to the community to “put it in the past and move on”. Rotham plans to integrate positivity into her piece that will eventually be in the shape of a COVID-19 particle. Projects like these are beginning to circulate around La Cumbre as many artists enjoy involving the community in their work.
Alongside these artistic projects are financial projects that owners of galleries and museums have had to face. Mr. Cregan, the owner, and founder of La Cumbre Center has mentioned in an article by the Santa Barbara News-Press that he has begun helping artists find alternative sources of income during these difficult times. One example of how artists are trying to survive is by selling their art on Artcloud, an online art purchasing service. Art collectors and artists are able to buy and sell pieces online which has produced some sales for La Cumbre and other art galleries. Although selling art in-person is much more effective, artists have been able to produce some sales through this site.
Artists are trying their best to continue creating and selling, as seen with Lyz Rotham’s piece revolved around COVID-19 and the use of artcloud. However, artists are still struggling to navigate during this odd time. As members of the Santa Barbara community, we can support these artists by attending art workshops at SBMA when the museum opens and by going to local art shows with our friends in the future. When the time comes, we can show local artists of the Santa Barbara community that we are here for them and that we appreciate their creative ideas and works of art.