Category: Cultural

CANCELED — March 19 — Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara to present ‘Third Thursday Studio: Print a Pattern’

SANTA BARBARA — Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara  to present Third Thursday Studio: Print a Pattern, 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, March 19, 653 Paseo Nuevo, Santa Barbara. FREE for MCASB Members Join printmaker and graphic artist Chelsea Willett and create…

(NatureTrack Film Festival Postponed Until October 9-11) March 20-22 — NatureTrack Film Festival Returns to Los Olivos ‘Igniting Passion for Nature Through Film’

Update: After careful consideration and consultation with multiple stakeholders, the NatureTrack Film Festival (NTFF) has made the difficult decision to postpone our March 20-22, 2020 event to October 9-11, 2020.

Aug. 1 — Entertainers Come Together for First-ever Drive-in Comedy Show Oxnard Performing Arts Center to host socially-distanced entertainment, food and music

The Canyon Club Agoura Hills & the Ventura Harbor Comedy Club have joined forces during the COVID-19 pandemic to bring their audiences a new form of entertainment. The new event, Parked Car Comedy, features comedians, live music, food and drinks, all from the safety & comfort of your car.

The event will be Saturday, Aug. 1 at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center, 800 Hobson Way, Oxnard. Gates open at 6 p.m. with comedians performing from 7 to 9 p.m. Tickets are $40 in advance or at the door until sold out.

Aug. 3 — COVID-19 Logrando bienestar webinar

I hope all of you are fine. As you know in some areas in our county several families have been affected by COVID-19, some of these families have called Logrando to look for more information and support, for this reason, our program Logrando Bienestar will do a webinar with the participation of Dr. Alejandro Andrade from VCMC.

Dr. Andrade will provide information in Spanish about COVID19 and he will be answering questions that parents could have and I will be providing information about Logrando Bienestar and Mental Health services available.

Aug. 16 — Virtual Workshop on Youth Culture and Gang Activity Offers Parents Information, Recommendations, Resources

Family Service Agency of Santa Barbara County is hosting a virtual workshop, Youth Culture and Gang Activity in Lompoc, to help parents understand more about gangs in the Lompoc community and what they can do if they suspect their child is involved with one.  Workshops in English and Spanish will take place via Zoom on Sunday, August 16 from 3 to 4 p.m. (English) and 4:15 to 5:15 p.m. (Spanish).

Aug. 19 — Channel Islands Maritime Museum online Speaker Series to feature Steve Lund – “Japanese Submarines Attack America’s West Coast During WWII”

Interesting and captivating speakers are usually scheduled every third Wednesday at the Channel Islands Maritime Museum, 3900 Bluefin Circle, Oxnard. But due to Covid-19 the series has gone online. The next speaker is scheduled for August 19 – Steve Lund – “Japanese Submarines Attack America’s West Coast During WWII,” at 7:00 PM.

Sept. 3 — Bilingual report — CEC Gathers with Frontline and Essential Workers, Indigenous Communities to Address Local Climate Resilience

The Community Environmental Council (CEC), in collaboration with Central Coast Climate Justice Network, Mixteco/Indigena Community Organizing Project (MICOP), Central Coast Alliance United for a Sustainable Economy (CAUSE), and the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians Environmental Office, will co-host Climate Resilience Roundtable: Historias de resiliencia desde las primeras líneas del cambio climático / Stories of Resilience from the Frontlines of Climate Change on Thursday, September 3, 2020 from 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Sept. 13 — 2020 Wine Women & Shoes Goes Virtual

The 6th annual Wine Women & Shoes benefitting RISE will be held virtually on September 13th, 2020. This event is a wine and food tasting, boutique shopping experience complete with raffles, silent and live auctions and a fashion show. Kick up your heels for an afternoon of fun and philanthropy, this year from the comfort of your home!

Sept. 16 — Annual Heroes of Hospice of Santa Barbara Goes Virtual with Internationally known Pico Iyer, Honors Local Heroes  

On Wednesday, September 16th, Hospice of Santa Barbara (HSB) will hold their 8th Annual Heroes of Hospice (HOH) event online to honor local community heroes with international Keynote Speaker, Pico Iyer.

Due to COVID-19, many events have been cancelled and postponed but HSB’s yearly event will go virtual with an hour-long online event.  Each year, HSB recognizes the outstanding organizations and individuals who play a key role in service to those in the Santa Barbara community and/or support the organization’s mission of providing care to anyone experiencing the impact of a serious illness or grieving the death of a loved one. This

Sept. 19 — Santa Barbara County Farm Day Begins With Virtual Tour Of Santa Maria Valley’s Babé Farms

Santa Barbara County Farm Day will kick off at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 19 with an online tour of Babé Farms.

Offered by Students for Eco-Education and Agriculture (SEEAG), Santa Barbara County Farm Day is now in its second year. Farm Day is an opportunity for the public to visit local growers to see how crops are grown, harvested and sent to market. This year, tours will be virtual.

Sept. 23 — CLU School of Management to present ‘Mother of Invention: Finding Opportunity in Life’s Everyday Challenges,” and other upcoming Fall events

We kick off Women Entrepreneurship Week 2020 with Cara Armstrong, CEO, founder and inventor of Baby Barista, a Nespresso-like machine that makes the perfect bottle in under 30 seconds, and an accompanying ecosystem that revolutionizes the infant formula feeding experience.

Sept. 28 — Santa Barbara Museum of Art to present Zoom event — Your Good Pictures: Trends in Popular Photography

The Santa Barbara Museum of Art will present the FREE SBMA Virtual Talk by Art Historian Kim Beil Focuses on Trends in Popular Photography at 6 p.m. Monday, Sept. 28.

Live via Zoom

Oct. 17 — Bilingual report — Girl Scouts Today. Scientists Tomorrow. Celebrating the Future of our Girls!

Girl Scouts of the USA invites you to celebrate our girls and their bright futures during Hispanic Heritage Month. This FREE virtual and interactive event will teach girls about citizen science and what it means to observe and engage in the world around them as it relates to science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), a critical component of success in the 21st century. 
 
During the one-hour interactive session conducted entirely in Spanish, girls will have the opportunity to learn dance moves from Broadway actors, have fun with games while learning about the scientific method, meet some surprise guests, and have the chance to win prizes such as a tablet. In addition to dancing, playing, and learning about the fun and magic of science, these events also serve as an opportunity to get a taste of what it means to be a Girl Scout – lots of adventure, learning, friendships, and fun at every turn.

Oct. 17, 18 — SBMA celebrates Dia de los Muertos virtually and live from Oaxaca

For over 30 years, the Santa Barbara Museum of Art has celebrated the Mexican tradition of Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, with music, dance, art activities and altar displays. This year, SBMA is bringing the festivities to you virtually via Zoom and live from Oaxaca for a behind the scenes glimpse of the artisans and art that are central to this deeply moving holiday.

Oct. 26 — FREE Santa Barbara Museum of Art virtual discussion with artist Marshall Brown on 10/26!

Working through the intertwined histories of art, architecture, and photography, Marshall Brown’s collages create new connections, associations, and meanings among disparate architectural and photographic sources. This talk focuses on collage making as a transgressive medium that embraces multiple histories, formal impurities, and uncertain visions for the future.

Oct. 29 — Bilingual report — Community Food & Farming Discussion Series: Food Access and Food Security / Acceso a Los Alimentos y Seguridad Alimentario

How do we (and how can we better) meet the basic food needs of our entire community and ensure fair access to local food resources?

This discussion will highlight current efforts to support and care for our County’s vulnerable populations by ensuring access to nutritious and affordable food, and opportunities to scale and deepen these efforts.

Oct. 30 — Ghosts, goblins and scary fun is coming to a drive-through Trick-or-Treat event at Pioneer Valley High School

Ghosts, goblins and scary fun is coming to a drive-through Trick-or-Treat event at Pioneer Valley High School on October 30 (Friday).

The school’s FFA officers will join forces with clubs such as K-Pop, AVID 2020, NAMI and SHARe from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. to transform part of the campus into a “thriller” experience.

Nov. 1 — Celebrate Día De Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) with OPAC!

Featuring performances by:
Club Flor Bonita + Grupo Folklorico Fusion Mexicana

Followed by a screening of Coco!

This family-friendly event is a safe and socially-distanced drive-in event in our parking lot. Enjoy live performances and a movie from the comfort of your car (or bring chairs to sit outside your car!).  Our restrooms will be open and cleaned throughout the event.

Nov. 12 — Homes with Heart VC Invites all Businesses with Heart to Virtual Seminar to Support Youth in Care and their Families

Business with Heart VC is a four-year-old initiative, of Homes with Heart VC, responsible for helping many families. Originally set up as a program comprised of business members that helped resource families and youth with discounts from each of the local businesses, the program has grown to become an exciting way to provide internships and jobs for our older youth, that will be expanding to biological families and all other families in need. The core of the program is to also help businesses with additional foot traffic and recognition through website, social media exposure, and new signage.

Nov. 18 — Hospice of Santa Barbara Virtual Speaker Series – ILLUMINATE Presents Frank Ostaseski

As local nonprofits are adapting to find new ways to serve their clients and causes, Hospice of Santa Barbara (HSB) has adjusted to the new realities that come with COVID-19 by creating their ILLUMINATE Speaker Series – a series which not only addresses aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic but also offers help to those struggling to understand their place in this new reality. 

Nov. 19 — Ventura County Family Justice Center Foundation hosts virtual variety show fundraiser

On Nov. 19 at 6:30 p.m., the Ventura County Family Justice Center Foundation is hosting its “Evening of Hope Virtual Variety Show,” a fundraising event that will stream on Facebook Live through @VCFJC.Foundation. All are welcome to join the fun.

The virtual variety show will feature performances from REO Speedwagon, Tower of Power, Ignition, special guest Gregg Bissonette and The Reddcoats, and more.

Through Nov. 22 — The 10th Annual (Online) Fine Art Auction Fundraiser

This year, we’re bringing our art auction to you! The Santa Paula Art Museum’s 10th Annual Fine Art Auction Fundraiser will be hosted entirely online. Online bidding will open Monday, November 9, 2020, and will close one artwork every minute beginning at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 22.

Dec. 1 — Santa Barbara Museum of Art to present ‘Artificial Intelligence and Art: The Case of Harold Cohen A Conversation with Justin Underhill’ (via Zoom)

The Santa Barbara Museum of Art will present “Artificial Intelligence and Art: The Case of Harold Cohen A Conversation with Justin Underhill” (via Zoom) at 4 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 1.

This talk explores the work of Harold Cohen (1928 – 2016), a pioneer of art made by artificial intelligence. Cohen taught for decades at UC San Diego and wrote the art-making computer program AARON in the 1970s.

Dec. 3 — Santa Barbara Museum of Art to present ‘What Matters is Boldness: Mexican Modernism in Context’

The Santa Barbara Museum of Art will present “What Matters is Boldness: Mexican Modernism in Context” Art Matters Lecture (via Zoom) with Mark Castro, Jorge Baldor Curator of Latin American Art, Dallas Museum of Art at 3 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 3.

Dec. 6 — Meadowlark Service League Hosts Charity Outdoor Holiday Boutique

Shop til you drop!  Join Meadowlark Service League on Sunday, December 6, for a “Outdoor Holiday Boutique” at a private home overlooking Santa Rosa Valley. The Meadowlark Service League, like all nonprofit organizations and businesses, has been hit very hard by the pandemic, and have had to face the cancellation of their major fundraising events. Despite the obstacles, the Meadowlark members have been hard at work to create opportunities that will continue to raise funds to benefit the many charities that their events support. “We have been resilient over the past several months, from a ‘Virtual Taste of Camarillo’ to creating decorative succulent pumpkins to raise funds for charity,” noted longtime Meadowlark and event host, Gwen Speakes,“ and we are excited for this event, not only for the many charities we support, but to help support the many local businesses who depended on Meadowlark events over the years and have limited venues now.”

Dec. 13 — Santa Barbara Museum of Art to present ‘Kwame S. Brathwaite in Conversation (via Zoom)’

The Santa Barbara Museum of Art will present “Kwame S. Brathwaite in Conversation (via Zoom)” at 11 a.m Sunday, Dec. 13.

Kwame Samori Brathwaite speaks with Charles Wylie, SBMA Curator of Photography and New Media, about the groundbreaking art of his father, the renowned photographer Kwame Brathwaite. With family and friends, Kwame Brathwaite created a multi-faceted cultural movement in 1950s and 60s Harlem from which the affirmative personal and political statement “Black is Beautiful” arose. Inspired by Pan-Africanism and attuned to the central role of mass media in contemporary society, Brathwaite forged a new visual and cultural identity for African Americans via photography, fashion, and performance whose influence is still being felt. 

Through Dec. 13 — New Virtual Shop Local Market makes it easy to support women-owned and minority-owned small businesses, hosted by Women’s Economic Ventures

Women’s Economic Ventures (WEV) annual Celebration of Small Business is launching a Virtual Shop Local Market to safely bring shoppers to local small businesses this holiday season. The marketplace will feature more than 50 local, women-owned and minority-owned small businesses who are part of the WEV community.   The 26-day, dynamic online shopping portal will be open online from November 17 – December 13 and can be accessed by visiting WEV’s website at www.wevonline.org

Through Dec. 20 — CSUCI Choir performs first virtual winter concert

CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI)’s first-ever virtual winter concert will celebrate women composers, whose work goes largely unrecognized by larger American orchestras. 

“I’m promoting women composers because I’ve always used music specifically to speak to social justice issues such as underrepresented racial or LGBTQ groups,” said CSUCI Chorus Artistic Director KuanFen Liu, who holds a doctorate in musical arts.  

Beginning on Friday Dec. 11 at 7 p.m., guests can visit the Channel Islands Choral Association at www.cicachoir.org and listen to “Celebrate Women Composers in Choral Music.” The winter concert will be available online through Dec. 20.  

Dec. 24, 27 — KEYT to Air Two Special Showings of Hospice of Santa Barbara’s 37th Annual Light Up a Life

This year, Hospice of Santa Barbara (HSB) filmed their traditional celebration of reflection, special speakers, poetry, musical entertainment, and the lighting of their Tree of Remembrance, featuring emcee Catherine Remak that will be aired Thursday, December 24th at 11:30 am and Sunday, December 27th at 2 pm on KEYT. 

The holiday season can stir up a range of emotions, including joy, stress, sadness, and everything in between. For those preparing to navigate the holiday season without cherished loved ones, this time of year can be even more difficult and HSB honors them every year with Light Up a Life. Light Up A Life is an opportunity for all to join together as communities unite for one heartwarming ceremony to remember and honor the many that are missed this holiday season. 

Dec. 31 — ‘A Toast Heard ‘Round the World’ Livestream Event

Pacifica Graduate Institute Alumni Association (PGIAA) is extremely excited to announce a new livestream event component of its annual global celebration, “A Toast Heard ‘Round the World” on New Year’s Eve. 

On December 31st from 12-Noon to Midnight PGIAA and partners will LIVESTREAM a variety of entertainment, including Live Music performances, Poetry Readings, Dream Tending, Meditations, and more.

Jan. 5 — Ventura County Board of Supervisors Holding Special Meeting

The County of Ventura Board of Supervisors will hold a Special Meeting on January 5, 2021 at 1 pm. The meeting will be live streamed at www.ventura.org/bos and on the County Facebook page @CountyofVentura. The meeting will include an update on coronavirus response efforts and the proposed process and timeline for the appointment of a District Attorney.

Jan. 12 — UCSB Arts & Lectures presents groundbreaking author Ta-Nehisi Coates as part of its acclaimed Race to Justice virtual series

UCSB Arts & Lectures presents groundbreaking author Ta-Nehisi Coates in a virtual presentation as part of its acclaimed Race to Justice series on Tuesday, Jan. 12 at 5 p.m. Pacific. This presentation will be followed by an audience Q&A moderated by Terrance Wooten, professor in the UCSB Department of Black Studies. Ticket holders will be able to replay this event for one week.

Museum of Ventura County — Virgencitas Now Open, Call for Volunteers, Free First Sunday, and more!

Call for Volunteers! January 24—26, 2020 We are excited for the recently announced Albinger Archaeological Museum’s 40th Anniversaryevent scheduled for Friday, January 24th — Sunday, January 26, 2020. Come celebrate our county’s history and become a part of our museum…

Bilingual poetry of Santa Maria High School Spanish Teacher Enedina Castañeda selected for display at the Secretariat of Foreign Affairs of Mexico City

Courtesy photos. Photo credits: Instituto de los Mexicanos en el Exterior SRE) Binational Congress Dic 5, 2019, ClaryArts – Clara Victoria Martínez Rojas SANTA MARIA — The bilingual poetry of Santa Maria High School Spanish Teacher Enedina Castañeda was recently selected and…

Bilingual report: VCAAA Wins National Awards for Veterans Tribute, Elder Abuse Awareness

VENTURA COUNTY — The Ventura County Area Agency on Aging is the recipient of two National Mature Media Awards for video production. The videos, titled Remembering Ventura County’s Veterans and Ventura County Elder Abuse Call to Action, were recognized as being…

Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation’s “Project Christmas” Spreads Holiday Cheer in the Tri-County Area this Holiday Season

Christmas Trees and Gifts delivered to Families Who Have a Child with Cancer SANTA BARBARA — Each year, Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation (TBCF) pairs families in the Tri-County area who have a child with cancer with supporters to help make…

Santa Paula Art Museum Announces 2020 Exhibition Schedule

SANTA PAULA — The Santa Paula Art Museum is excited to announce its exhibition schedule for 2020. The Museum will turn 10 this year, and to mark the milestone the Museum will exhibit “The First Decade: Celebrating Ten Years of Acquisitions” from January…

Museum of Ventura County — We need your help

DONATE NOW Dear MVC Supporter, By making a gift to the Museum of Ventura County… YOU protect our history. Without our collections and archives, the history of Ventura County and the stories of local cultures are incomplete. YOU inspire vibrant…

Music students from Santa Maria, Righetti and Pioneer High Schools recent participate in masterclass/concert that featured Cuban musician and composer Dayramir Gonzalez

SANTA MARIA — Music students from Santa Maria, Righetti and Pioneer High Schools are making sure the beat goes on and on and on. They recently participated in a masterclass/concert that featured Cuban musician and composer Dayramir Gonzalez accompanied by his…

Family Service Agency Offers Tips to Help Caregivers Survive the Holidays — and Beyond

SANTA BARBARA — The holidays are busy times, but for those caring for an elderly parent or loved one, the holidays add even more of a challenge. Already feeling overwhelmed with daily caregiving tasks, caregivers may view holiday preparations as more…