Arte Del Pueblo is now on view until July 27th!
Thank you to everyone that came to the opening reception. We really enjoyed spending time with you all and celebrating these amazing artists together.
Make sure to come visit us before the exhibition is over… And keep an eye out for upcoming events surrounding Arte Del Pueblo!
See what’s up next, join the VMF volunteer party, and get your Summer tickets! OTTMAR LIEBERT Friday, June 27 at 7:00 PM The Majestic Ventura Theater Information & Tickets Prepare for an unforgettable evening as 5-time GRAMMYnominee Ottmar Liebert brings…
VENTURA — Supervisor Kelly Long’s Office and the Ventura County Public Works Agency (VCPWA), in collaboration with community partners and local leaders, celebrated the completion of the El Rio Pedestrian Improvements Project with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Monday, June 2, 2025, at the First Baptist Church of El Rio.
The event brought together members of the Rio School District, Ventura County Sheriff’s Department, Mixteco/Indigena Community Organizing Project (MICOP), Nyeland Promise Advisory Board, Gold Coast Transit District, construction teams, residents, and other key stakeholders who contributed to the project’s success. The celebration featured performances from children of the Mariachi Academy and folklórico dancers from the Rio School District, showcasing the vibrant spirit of the El Rio community.
Join the Western Center for Agricultural Health and Safety on Friday, June 13th at 9 am to learn how leaders in the agricultural workplace can prepare and respond to immigration enforcement. The primary audience is crew leaders and frontline supervisors. The webinar will be in Spanish with simultaneous English interpretation. This webinar will not be recorded.
United Way of Ventura County’s 2025 Stuff the Bus campaign has officially launched! Help us reach our goal of providing 1,000 backpacks stuffed with essential school supplies for local homeless middle schoolers. Currently, over 8,000 youth have been identified as homeless in Ventura County and over 30% of homeless youth are of middle school age. Listed below are ways you can help this year’s campaign.
VENTURA — The City of Ventura invites residents aged 50 and older to participate in a free monthly Ventura Council for Seniors (VCS) Speaker Series, running from June through November 2025. Each session is designed to empower seniors and caregivers with valuable information on health, safety, and well-being.
“This series is all about supporting our older adult community with tools to live independently, safely, and confidently,” said Janine Cobian, Recreation Supervisor. “Whether you’re navigating Medicare, making your home safer, or just looking to stay informed, there’s something for everyone.”
Meetings are held in-person on the 3rd Tuesday of each month from
On Monday, June 16, we present NYTimes Crirtics’ Pick, SANTOSH screening at 3:30pm and 6:30pm. “As well as working rivetingly as a procedural thriller and a psychological study, Santosh has a hard, documentary-like edge, exploring Indian social phenomena with intense analytical focus.”
Mehrabian, who served as the fourth engineering dean at UCSB from 1983-1990, was responsible for major growth and advancement of the relatively young college during his tenure.
On view now through July 6, 2025
Anne Ward grew up in the Westchester neighborhood of Los Angeles, wanting to be an artist. She was always painting and drawing and was given her first set of oil paints by her Aunt Peg at age 13. After completing a degree in history at UCLA, Ward went to work as an assistant to the director on films like “Wyatt Earp” and “French Kiss.” While working in France, Anne discovered the thrill of painting outdoors and returned home fully devoted to the pursuit of painting.
VMF’s Songcraft Summer Camp
July 14-18, 2025
Ages 12-19
Ojai Underground
This five-day immersive summer camp introduces students to the creative and professional world of the music business. Each day focuses on a different aspect of being an artist—from songwriting and performance to branding and production. Students will collaborate, create original music, explore recording techniques, build stage presence, and leave with real-world tools to share their voice with the world. The week culminates in a live performance.
Learn More
NOW OPEN – Picturing the Past: How Photography Tells Our Stories
How do we truly know what happened in the past? History is a collection of stories—interwoven, evolving, and shaped by the evidence left behind. Photographs are one of the many tools that help us understand the past, capturing faces, places, and moments frozen in time. But do they always tell the full story?
This engaging exhibition explores the power of photography to record our history. Through images, artifacts, and interactive displays, visitors will discover how historians use photographs to uncover hidden narratives, challenge assumptions, and bring history to life. Join us in exploring the early history of photography in Ventura County, how photos shape our understanding of the past, and how the photos we take today tell tomorrow’s story. More information HERE!
The COSMOS project, with data collected by the James Webb Space Telescope, consists of all the imaging and a catalog of nearly 800,000 galaxies spanning nearly all of cosmic time.
THOUSAND OAKS — The 69th Annual Conejo Valley Days (CVD) will offer nine days of family fun from June 19 through June 29 (dark, June 23 and 24) at Conejo Creek Park South (23 Freeway/Janss Rd. exit) in Thousand Oaks. Festival goers can enjoy carnival rides, country music, line dancing, kids’ crafts and artisan booths.
Kastl Amusements will operate over 15 rides plus midway games for all ages. A longtime fixture at CVD, the Thousand Oaks Elks Club will serve tri-tip sandwiches and other favorites. Specialty Italian, Mexican and Asian fusion foods will also be available.
MONTECITO — The Rotary Club of Montecito has awarded scholarships to 11 high-achieving students at Santa Barbara City College studying for vocational and technical careers.
Rotary club members presented the Career Technical and Vocational Scholarships during a ceremony on April 15 that included remarks from club President Kim Stone, Rotary Club of Montecito Foundation President Tony Morris, several SBCC faculty and students, and SBCC Foundation CEO Bobbi Abram. The scholarships honored students for their accomplishments and aspirations in diverse technical and vocational fields, including nursing, early childhood education, journalism and construction technology.
Community events return with family fun, live music and special guests OXNARD — Long days, warm nights and community vibes are back at The Collection at RiverPark! The summer event lineup is packed with exciting experiences for all ages, from…
Picturing the Past, How Photography Tells Our Stories invites you to reflect on how we come to understand history. Photographs are among the many tools we use to piece together the past—capturing faces, places, and fleeting moments. But do they tell the whole story? This exhibition explores the evolving, interwoven nature of historical narratives and the role of photography in shaping what we remember.
From ocean gyres to grocery aisles, plastic is all around us, and it puts our communities and planet at risk. This summer, we invite you to connect with local activists, explore bold solutions, and take action to reduce your plastic footprint. Join our June and July events at CEC’s Environmental Hub and kick off the season in plastic-free style!
VENTURA — A decade of healing, hope, and resilience was celebrated under the stars on May 29th, as the Ventura County Family Justice Center Foundation (VCFJC Foundation) set a new fundraising record at its annual Voices of Hope celebration. This year’s theme, Celebrating a Decade of Camp Hope, raised $305,827 to support Camp HOPE along with a generous surprise $75,000 from Ventura County Credit Union to celebrate their 75th anniversary. VCFJC Foundation was one of 10 organizations selected to receive this generous donation. During the celebration three community leaders were honored for their contributions to family justice in Ventura County – Greg Totten, Dr.Graal Diaz and Reins of H.O.P.E. The event brought together over 230 community members, leaders, and supporters for an evening filled with purpose, celebration, and camp-themed fun.
First Thursday Food Trucks at Plaza Park — Over a dozen trucks, Electronic Dance Music, shopping — and food starts at 5PM! Lineup:
Warmer air can suck up more moisture in dry regions and dump more rain in wet regions. New research reveals that the atmosphere’s drying capacity is outpacing increases in rainfall.
FREE ADOPTIONS this Saturday! Ventura County Animal Services is participating in California Adopt-a-Pet Day, a statewide pet adoption event organized by CalAnimalsand sponsored by the ASPCA! The event is this Saturday, June 7th, 2025 at both the Camarillo and Simi Valley Animal Shelters from 1:00pm – 6:00pm.
All adopted animals will be spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and microchipped before going home. Each adopter will receive a special FREE Adoption Gift Bagcourtesy of Supervisor Janice Parvin!
SANTA BARBARA — At 6:44 am on June 29, 1925, a powerful earthquake devastated Santa Barbara, taking the lives of eleven people and destroying or damaging much of downtown. It was a pivotal moment in the City’s history that brought the community together, sharing resources and space to support one another through the aftermath, and out of the debris emerged the Spanish Colonial Revival architecture of today’s Santa Barbara.
Many City residents spent the rest of the summer sleeping outdoors in fear of the aftershocks that rolled periodically through the city. Meanwhile, City officials looked for ways to use this tragedy to improve Santa Barbara. Stricter building codes were enforced on new construction, and commercial buildings on State Street were required to conform to a Spanish-Moorish Revival style of architecture. The headline of the day was, “Spanish Architecture to Rise from Ruins.” The results of their efforts are evident in the distinctive look that has made Santa Barbara a popular tourist destination ever since.
WESTLAKE VILLAGE — Registration is open for the YMCA’s Safety Around Water (SAW) classes. The free, seven-session program provides water safety and basic swimming skills to youth and adults ages 5 and older with little or no water experience.
Weekly classes run from June 16 through August 9. Lessons are held during the late afternoon and early evening. SAW classes take place in the Simi Valley Family YMCA (3200 Cochran Street) and Yarrow Family YMCA (31105 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Westlake Village) indoor swimming pools.
La Marcha Sound
This past Friday, we wrapped up the 4th Annual Palomazo Music Series with an unforgettable performance by La Marcha. It was truly epic—filled with incredible conversations, heartfelt stories, and even a little dancing! Huge thanks to everyone who came out and helped make this final Palomazo so special.
Juneteenth in Santa Barbara County: Gather, Reflect, Celebrate
Discover local Juneteenth events that commemorate history and celebrate Black culture.
Click to find events happening near you and be part of the celebration.
SANTA BARBARA — Women’s Economic Ventures (WEV) brought together WEV clients, elected officials, donors and local partners at its Community Impact Event on May 22, 2025 at The HUB in downtown Santa Barbara. The event celebrated the transformative achievements of 2024 and unveiled the newly released WEV 2024 Impact Report. Highlighted was WEV’s far-reaching support of women entrepreneurs and a reaffirmation of its mission to advance economic equity across the Central Coast.
“Economic equity is about building healthy and thriving communities for everyone,” said Irene Kelly, WEV’s Associate Director of Community Engagement, as she opened the program. “Our clients remind us that feeling financially stable, confident and excited about the future is a shared dream we can achieve together.”
OXNARD — The educational tall ship Mystic Whaler was honored to have welcomed graduating seniors from the Oxnard Union High School District to Mystic Whaler for a Class of 2025 portrait. The students arrived in their graduation finery and posed for a variety of photos to celebrate the graduates of 2025. Accompanying them, and proudly standing beside them, was OUHSD Superintendent Dr. Tom McCoy.
CALIFORNIA CENTRAL COAST – Frontline Healthcare workers at six Planned Parenthood California Central Coast (PPCCC) clinics in Thousand Oaks, Ventura, Oxnard, Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, and San Luis Obispo, have announced they will go on a two-day strike on June 10 and 11 in response to management’s continued unfair labor practices and refusal to address a deepening staffing crisis. The announcement follows nine months of attempted bargaining and a unanimous vote to authorize the strike earlier this month.
“We don’t want to go on strike, but we feel like we have to,” said Emily Medal, a Clinician at Planned Parenthood Santa Barbara. “We need management to stop bargaining in bad faith so that we can finally address short staffing. Our patients wait for weeks for an appointment, rearrange their whole day, often arranging childcare or missing work, and they can’t even get seen, or are rushed through. That’s not care. That’s a crisis.”
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
Opening Act: The Barrelhouse Wailers
Friday, July 25th at 6:00 PM
The Ventura College Sportsplex Stadium
West Campus Way, Ventura, CA
New research shows that, globally, men and women tend to use the ocean in different ways, with implications for how marine spaces are used and valued.
VENTURA COUNTY — Ventura County Public Health, in partnership with Ventura County Action on Smoking and Health (VC-ASH) proudly joins the global community in recognizing World No Tobacco Day on May 31. This day, established by the World Health Organization, raises awareness about the health and environmental harms caused by tobacco use and highlights efforts to promote tobacco-free living.
The 2025 theme, “Unmasking the Appeal,” focuses on exposing the tactics tobacco companies use to attract youth through flavored products and marketing strategies. These deceptive appeals contribute to tobacco’s status as the leading cause of preventable disease and death worldwide.
“Tobacco use remains one of the leading causes of preventable illness worldwide,” said Vicky Gonzales of Ventura County Public Health. “We are committed to empowering Ventura County residents with the information and resources they need to quit and to protect our youth from the harmful influence of tobacco and nicotine products.”
VENTURA — Supervisor Kelly Long’s Office and the Ventura County Public Works Agency (VCPWA) will host a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the completion of the El Rio Pedestrian Improvements Project on Monday, June 2 at 12:00 p.m. The event will take place in the parking lot of the First Baptist Church of El Rio, 2857 Cortez St., Oxnard.
The pedestrian improvements – which began in July 2024 — closes sidewalk gaps within the El Rio community, providing accessible pedestrian walkways along three residential roadways: Stroube Street, Walnut Drive and a portion of Cortez Street.
SANTA BARBARA — Amid growing outrage over Governor Gavin Newsom’s silence regarding Sable Offshore’s oil operations, community members and student activists will gather for a peaceful demonstration on Thursday, May 29 at 7:00 AM at Gaviota State Park.
Sable Offshore has begun pumping oil from offshore platforms that were abandoned for more than a decade, and pipeline work at Gaviota State Park is expected to finish this week. Environmental advocates say the silence from the Governor’s office—and the waivers granted by State Parks and Fire Marshal agencies—suggest tacit approval from the highest levels of state government.
Kids’ Art Fest
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Sunday, June 1, 2025, from 11 AM to 3 PM
Free for all ages
We’re kicking off a summer of creative fun with Kids’ Art Fest on Sunday, June 1! This free, outdoor celebration is packed with hands-on art activities for all ages, plus face painting, giant bubbles, live art demos, yummy food vendors*, community performances, and more.
Don’t miss folklórico and mariachi performances by young artists from Oxnard’s Inlakech Cultural Arts Center from 12 PM to 1 PM. Kids’ Art Fest 2025 is sponsored by Calavo Growers, Brianne McGrath, and Rotary Club of Santa Paula.
*The cost of food is not included, but everything else is!
The physicist and computer science assistant professor explores a hybrid approach to scalable, error-resilient quantum machines.
The dance company has represented the college throughout the community performing for civic and school events as a way of celebrating the cultural and artistic traditions of México. The group takes pride in educating audiences about the music, dances, and traditions that have existed for generations and offers programs that demonstrate discipline and dedication, combined with a love of performing before appreciative audiences. As a unit, the Mestizo Folklórico Dance Com[any aims to transmit the elegance, joyfulness, and vibrancy of Mexico’s culture to their audiences.
OXNARD — Mayor Luis A. Mc Arthur is pleased to announce that the City of Oxnard along with members of the following organizations: Disabled American Veterans – Chapter 24, Knights of Columbus Council 750, Military Officers Association of America Ventura County Chapter, Port of Hueneme and the Channel Islands High School Raiders Band will jointly host a Memorial Day Ceremony on Monday, May 26, 2025, at Plaza Park (500 South C Street) starting at 11 a.m.
SANTA BARBARA — The Pierre Claeyssens Veterans Foundation and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1649 have announced the details of their popular annual Memorial Day ceremony taking place on May 26th, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. at the Santa Barbara Cemetery, 901 Channel Drive.
This free event honors men and women who have proudly served in the United States military. Attendees are encouraged to arrive early in order to secure a seat. Plenty of free parking will be available on-site. The ceremony is scheduled to begin at 11:00 a.m. sharp near the cemetery’s main flagpole. This year’s program will feature presentations and performances by local groups such as the UCSB ROTC Color Guard, Gold Coast Pipe & Drum Band, David Gonzales and the Santa Barbara Choral Society, and The Prime Time Band.
VENTURA COUNTY — The last day of the WE REMEMBER exhibit is May 30 when at 2 pm we will present a 8 minute work-in-progress documentary on Deported Veterans followed by We Remember: End of Innocence a 47 minute doc on Ventura County veterans on their Vietnam experience. A Q/A with veterans and director George J. Sandoval will follow.
The John Spoor Broome Library at CSU, Channel Islands is open from 9am to 4pm Tuesday – Friday and unfortunately is closed on Memorial Day.
Looking to take action in your community? Join the Santa Barbara Transgender Advocacy Network for a countywide day of community organizing this Saturday, May 24th, from 12 to 2 PM in Santa Barbara, Goleta, and Isla Vista.
… In this time of nonstop headlines and uncertainty, I invite us not to lose sight of the good we are creating together. There are so many examples, including the meaningful and inspired leadership of the recent graduating class of the Ventura County Leadership Academy, where Cohort 30 raised more than $20,000 to help support neighbors who lost their homes in the Mountain Fire. I wish I could have bottled up their joy as they presented the check last week – it was such a beautiful thing to witness!
Meiya Sidney ???, a fourth-year College of Creative Studies and art honors student, shares her ceramic practice shaped by summers in Taiwan.
Having trouble viewing this email? Click here EDC MAY AND JUNE EVENT AND WEBINAR SCHEDULE The Economic Development Collaborative encourages you to sign up for our no-cost events and webinars. Space is limited. Register today! Plan ahead! Our full EDC and partner event schedule is updated…
Photos from the diving community document around 1,200 adult giant sea bass as the species slowly recovers from decades of overfishing.
SANTA PAULA — The City of Santa Paula welcomes all Santa Paula residents, business owners, partners and supporters, to attend the annual State of the City event on June 5th. The event will take place at the Ventura County Agriculture Museum, located at 926 Railroad Ave., Santa Paula, CA 93060.
This year’s event, themed “Feel the Progress,” offers a chance for residents, community leaders, and stakeholders to hear about the City’s recent accomplishments, ongoing efforts, and what lies ahead. Join us to explore Santa Paula’s current priorities and community focused initiatives shaping our future.
SANTA BARBARA — The Santa Barbara Museum of Contemporary Art has announced the wildly popular and critically acclaimed exhibition “Arte de Pueblo” returns for another year! with an opening Party & Reception from 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday, June 1 at 653 Paseo Nuevo, Santa Barbara.
The Juror-free All-Are-Welcome Group Show is currently seeking artists.
The Economic Development Collaborative would like to recognize World Trade Month. This month celebrates how international trade unlocks new business opportunities, creates jobs and helps strengthen the United States and global economy.
The EDC is proud to support our community by providing professional technical assistance through our Small Business Development Center. Our NO-COST advising areas include:
• Start-up guidance
• Marketing and Branding
• International Trade
• E-commerce and Social Media
• Manufacturing Assistance
• Legal Compliance
• Strategic Planning
• QuickBooks and Accounting
• And MORE!
Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors’ meetings are available in Spanish. Watch live on our Spanish YouTube Channel, or Cable TV subscribers can access Secondary Audio Programming (SAP) in language settings.
There are still a few spots left to join us on Saturday, May 24, departing Santa Barbara at 9:00 am.
Our LA adventure begins with a studio visit with artist Luz Carabaño. From there, we will experience an exhibition preview of Tony Cokes at Hannah Hoffman. Then we will end the day at The Brick where we will see Elizabeth Paige Smith Unshade me of You.
We hope you join us on a very full and rewarding day of art and ideas – register here!
