Category: Events

Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara — Join us TOMORROW | FREE Sunset Beach Yoga & Mediation

oin us for two upcoming community classes in collaboration with Santa Barbara Beach Yoga. Sign up now for the free classes listed below and meet us in the sand! 
TOMORROW
SUNSET BEACH YOGA
& MEDITATION
Wednesday, May 26, 2021 
6:15 – 7:15 PM
East Beach
Sign up for free >>

VCCCD Celebrates Class of 2021 Graduates

Not even a pandemic could stop this year’s graduates of Moorpark, Oxnard and Ventura colleges from pursuing—and achieving—their educational goals. In recognition of what these resilient students have accomplished, the Ventura County Community College District (VCCCD) leadership collaborated with its three colleges to celebrate the 5,370 students in the class of 2021 who have earned their degrees or certificates.

Festive Drive-Thru Graduations were held on May 20 at each college’s campus and Ventura College East Campus in Santa Paula. 

“We are always proud of our graduates and all that they accomplish, but this year’s graduates hold a special honor for their persistence in completing their education when most of their classes were remote,” said Chancellor Greg Gillespie. “As these students become VCCCD alumni, they are well-prepared for their next steps of a career or transferring to a four-year college or university.”

Santa Paula Art Museum — We’d Love To See You!

Closing Reception: Anette Power’s Silver Linings: Journey of Light

Saturday, May 22, 2021, from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM

The sun is setting on artist Anette Power’s solo show Silver Linings: Journey of Light here at the Santa Paula Art Museum. The exhibit is full of color, meaning and happiness, and we recommend seeing it with the artist in tow during the closing reception on Saturday, May 22. Reservations are required and are available at 3:00 p.m. or 4:00 p.m. (space is limited).

And don’t forget that Anette will raffle off one of her gorgeous paintings (pictured below) on May 30 with all proceeds benefitting the Museum’s educational programs! Silver Linings: Journey of Light closes Sunday, May 30.

RSVP TO THE RECEPTION

Museum of Ventura County — Gardens Reopening June 1st + FREE Admission + Journal of Ventura County

We are excited to announce that beginning Thursday, June 3, 2021, the museum’s gardens and outdoor areas at both the Museum of Ventura (100 E. Main St., Ventura) and the Agriculture Museum (926 Railroad Ave., Santa Paula) will be open to the public! Both museums will operate Thursdays thru Sundays from 11am—5pm.

We invite you to come visit the refreshed and improved gardens, participate in family activities, and see the new art installations.

PLUS: Admission will be FREE to everyone, throughout 2021!

The Collection at RiverPark hosts weekly Farmers Market

Beginning on June 19, The Collection at RiverPark will be hosting a Farmers Market every Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. in partnership with Raw Inspiration. Presented by Community Memorial Health System, the Farmers Market will be located on Collection Boulevard across from The Annex Food Hall.

On opening day, June 19, The Collection will kick off the Farmers Market with fun festivities for all ages. There will be live music, arts and crafts, photo opportunities, and more for the whole family to enjoy. From opening day forward, the weekly Farmers Market will offer visitors a chance to stroll in the sunshine as they shop for fresh, local, farm-to-table food.

“We can’t wait to welcome the community to this new Farmers Market,” said the shopping center’s Marketing Manager, Jill Almonia. “Here in Oxnard, we are fortunate to have a strong agricultural community and beautiful farmland right in our own backyard. This is a great opportunity to get outside this summer, support local farmers and merchants, and find some of the most delicious produce.”

Bilingual report — National Police Week and Peace Officers Memorial Day 2021

In honor of National Police Week and Peace Officers Memorial Day, the Board of Supervisors and County of Ventura recognizes the service and sacrifice of federal, state, local and Tribal law enforcement.

This week is a time to honor our law enforcement officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our communities and communities throughout our nation.

SBCC — The Bridge — Congratulations, Class of 2021. You did it!

Perseverance. Resilience. These are just two of the qualities demonstrated by the Class of 2021 during a year of unprecedented challenges. Watch the video applauding their accomplishments.

Nearly 1600 students participated in the virtual commencement ceremony held on May 7. Over 4,300 degrees and certificates were awarded, 608 students graduated with honors and 20 graduates are veterans.
Click here to watch the recorded ceremony.

Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) — Urban Tech Conference — ‘Forward 2021’ May 18-20

Urban Tech Connect is a platform for under-represented communities to plug-in to the greater technology ecosystem and network with other founders, investors, tech influencers, and industry leaders. The conference also gives access to businesses that are raising significant funding or trying to be successfully acquired. Urban Tech Connect is bridging the gap of diverse ideation in technology while empowering the next generation of founders and entrepreneurs.

Santa Paula Art Museum — This May Just Be Your Silver Lining

Win a Painting from Anette Power’s Silver Linings: Journey of Light

Exhibit closes May 30, 2021. Raffle tickets on sale now.

As Anette Power’s solo exhibition Silver Linings heads into its final two weeks, the artist wants everyone to have a chance at finding their own silver lining. The artist will raffle off her painting Island Fika (pictured above) to one lucky winner on May 30! All proceeds from the raffle will benefit the Santa Paula Art Museum’s education program. Purchase one raffle ticket for $35; three tickets for $60; or six tickets for $175 (you do not have to be present to win). More importantly, come and see Anette’s light-filled exhibit before it closes Sunday, May 30!

Women’s Economic Ventures’ SOE Foundation to present Lupe Anguiano of Oxnard with 2021 Rock Star Award on May 21

Women’s Economic Ventures’ Spirit of Entrepreneurship (SOE) foundation will present Lupe Anguiano of Oxnard with the 2021 Rock Star Award, to be held from noon to 1:30 p.m. Friday, May 21.

Register here for the virtual event.

Anguiano, 92, is the daughter of Oxnard fieldworkers, who has worked as an entrepreneur and an activist for more than seven decades to improve the social, educational, economic, and environmental conditions of women and the poor. Her many achievements include organizing grape boycotts for Cesar Chavez, developing a program for gang members in East LA, founding a powerful women’s political group with Gloria Steinem, and helping welfare mothers find a better life.

Oxnard filmmaker debuts documentary on Teen Latina Mental Health on June 3

OPAC, the Oxnard Performing Arts Center Corporation, is pleased to announce the culmination of The Esperanza Project, a year-long programming series addressing Teen Latina Mental Health, with the premiere of the Esperanza Documentary on Thursday, June 3 from 6:30-8:30 pm on Zoom. The series was curated by OPAC’s Artist-in-Residence, Oxnard filmmaker Arcelia Martinez, in an effort to raise awareness about the disproportionately high rates of suicide amongst young Latinas compared to their peers and create space to tackle the stigmas surrounding mental health in the Latinx community. 

TOArts Announces Phased Re-Opening with mix of virtual, outdoor, and in-theatre events

Thousand Oaks Arts (TOArts) Presents is back with a diverse lineup of entertainment for the community. With a mix of virtual, outdoor, and eventual in-person events, TOArts and the Bank of America Performing Arts Center (BAPAC) are excited to bring back safe and fun performances to the Conejo Valley.  

TOArts Presents kicked off in May with “TOArts Scene at the Greens” at the Los Robles Greens golf course. Upcoming performances will include a trio from professional orchestra and Resident Company, New West Symphony, and comedian Craig Shoemaker. Tickets will be sold in pod seating to ensure social distancing and community safety.  

Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara — QUARANTEEN | Teen Arts Collective | Live Film Premiere on May 16, more news

MCASB is proud to present Quaranteen, a group of video works by the 2020-2021 Teen Arts Collective. Featuring seven individual bodies of work, Quaranteen explores the lived experience of each artist throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent quarantine. Quaranteen aims to embody an experience that has been both universally shared and individually unique, from the teenage perspective and through the medium of film. The Teen Arts Collective comprises seven students from Santa Barbara and surrounding areas, spanning across several different schools and grade levels. 

SBCC Performing, Visual and Media Arts Pop-Up Exhibition through May 31

Now through May 31, the entire community is cordially invited to visit an online pop-up exhibition featuring the work of Santa Barbara City College students from the departments of American Ethnic Studies, Art, Film and Television Production, Graphic Design, Photography, Journalism, and Multimedia Arts and Technologies.

Students worked closely with faculty to create and articulate a body of thought-provoking work inspired by the theme of this year’s All-SBCC Student Conference hosted by the Honors Program, “Justice: Environmental, Economic, Racial.”

Santa Barbara Museum of Art Welcomes Visitors Back into the Galleries on May 11

The Santa Barbara Museum of Art (SBMA) is pleased to welcome visitors back into the galleries on May 11, in accordance with the State of California and Santa Barbara County COVID-19 protocols.  

In order to ensure social distancing in the galleries, SBMA is recommending all visitors to make reservations through the online ticketing system at tickets.sbma.net, with admission being free for the foreseeable future. 

Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara — NURTURE OUR MOTHER | mural by Adriana Arriaga & Claudia Borfiga and more events

Nurture our Mother by Adriana Arriaga & Claudia Borfiga
“Nurture our Mother, is a celebration of the power of the Earth and the many magical things within it that play vital roles in our ecosystem.”

Museum of Ventura County — New Digital Jigsaw Puzzles + New Zoom Events + More!

oin us for the next installment in our new Zoom series, Local History Happy Hour with Jeffrey Maulhardt, author of “A History of Oxnard,” on Tuesday, May 18, 2021 from 5—6PM. In this series, local authors and historians sit down with The Barbara Barnard Smith Executive Director Elena Brokaw to discuss their unique perspectives on our region’s history, and take questions from the audience.

This online program is free, but requires advanced registration.

Santa Paula Art Museum — Prepare To Be Impressed

Now On View: Erin Hanson: Colors of California

Exhibit runs May 1, 2021 to July 25, 2021

West Coast artist Erin Hanson has earned a huge following thanks to her unique painting style, which has been dubbed “Open Impressionism” and is now taught to art students worldwide. (She also started selling paintings at the age of 10!) Open Impressionism is a blend of classical impressionism and modern expressionism, with a dash of plein air style. In other words, prepare yourself to be completely impressed. Erin Hanson: Colors of California is on view now through July 25, 2021.

The exhibit can also be enjoyed online, although we encourage you to visit all four of our current exhibitions in person!

Downtown Oxnard — It’s Gonna Be MAY!

Support Women, Art, and Small Businesses
Tomorrow May 1st from 11 am-4 pm join the Fundraiser Mixer at Open Door Studio to celebrate local women, small businesses, and the creative arts.
Live Music, Free Art Classes, Food, Vendors, Prizes, and an all-female exhibit. At 329 W 5th St.
For more info: ARTGIRLS#!T

County of Ventura COVID-19 Update for April 28, 2021

There are 11 new COVID-19 cases. There have been 4,183 new tests performed. There has been 1 additional death, 90 year old woman.

The current R-effective (average number of people each infected person will pass the virus onto and represents the rate at which COVID-19 is spreading) is .80 which means that spread of COVID-19 is likely decreasing; R-effective for CA is .85 right now.

Click here for information about COVID-19 testing.

Vaccine eligibility is now open to everyone 16 and older. Make your appointment today at myturn.ca.gov or 833-422-4255.

www.venturacountyrecovers.org

CLU School of Management — Vote now in the People’s Choice Awards in our student competitions and more upcoming events

We are coming down to the wire, just a few more days/hours to vote in both competitions! We have surpassed our goal of 800 participants voting by 400% but we want more. If you haven’t seen the work of our students, check it out today and select your favorites. The PRiME Competition closes on Tuesday followed by the New Venture Fair on Wednesday.

Museum of Ventura County — THIS WEEKEND: Grab & Go Bag Giveaway!

Join us at the Agriculture Museum (926 Railroad Ave., Santa Paula) this Saturday, May 1st @ 10am and at the Museum of Ventura County (100 E. Main St., Ventura) this Sunday, May 2nd @ 10am for our next Grab & Go Bag giveaway!

Discover creative ways to help protect our planet by using the 3Rs: Reducing, Reusing, and Recycling. Each fun-filled bag contains Small Footprints: Mateo Learns About the 3Rs storybook, Small Footprints: Activity and Coloring booklet, Paper Populous Garbage Truck Favor Box Craft, Food Forward’s Get Crafty with Your Food Waste Recipes, Play-Well TEKnologies wrist band, Compost Circle of Life, Composting at Home!, and so much more.

Carnegie Art Cornerstones endows $50,000 scholarship for CSUCI Art students 

An Oxnard non-profit organization designed to support and encourage aspiring young artists has endowed CSU Channel Islands with a $50,000 scholarship fund for students majoring in Studio Art or Art History.  

Carnegie Art Cornerstones evolved out of the Carnegie Art Museum, which closed in summer of 2019 owing to Oxnard city budget cuts. As a non-profit, Cornerstones will continue to promote art and art appreciation but will now do so through college scholarships. 

“I think this is really going to help students, especially coming out of a pandemic,” said CSUCI Art Professor and Chair of the Art Program, Liz King. “We’ve always had such an amazing relationship with the Carnegie Art Museum. Some of our faculty have had shows there, our students have been interns—it’s a treasured, vital relationship and I’m so happy to hear about Carnegie’s transition to Cornerstones.” 

Vita Art Center’s “Through Our Eyes” community art project documents children’s pandemic experiences

Twelve-year-old Phoebe Hopp’s wide eyes stared hauntingly out at her grandmother from the self-portrait she’d drawn in art class.

Lydia Hopps couldn’t see her granddaughter’s expression. Most of her face was covered by a mask, which she and other students had worn to prevent spread of COVID-19 during the class at Vita Art Center in Ventura.

“It made me think, what is this child thinking? What is she feeling?” Lydia Hopps said. “What have these children been through this past year? It just called me to take action.”

Join us at Virtual Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival, through April 24

When you enter the festival at SBEarthDay.org, you’ll see the Main Stage content at the top of your screen. Scroll down to visit our virtual booth. Once inside our booth, you can opt to join the live chat room where SBCFAN and our members will host a variety of talks, demos, and opportunities to connect with other food system actors. See our full schedule below – and scroll down to see other FAN recommended festival highlights. Hope to see you there!

83 student-authors from Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties compete for the best project proposals to reduce their home’s environmental footprint & receive awards

On Friday, April 30, 7th-12th-grade students from seven public schools in Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties participating in the MERITO Foundation’s EECCOA Challenge 2021 will be competing for cash and in-kind prizes with their environmental business proposals focused on water conservation, energy efficiency, or waste reduction in their homes, or to educate a community about ocean acidification. In the past, the program focused on reducing the environmental footprint of school campuses, but this year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, most students have been learning remotely. As a result, the challenge was adapted to allow students to submit proposals that reduce the environmental footprint of their homes. The main sponsors and partners of the EECCOA Program and EECCOA Virtual Challenge 2021 Awards Event are NOAA B-WET Grant, Ventura Water, Clean Power Alliance, and the City of Ventura’s Environmental Sustainability. The event will take place virtually on Friday, April 30 between 4:00 and 5:30 pm and will be live-streamed on the MERITO Foundation’s Facebook page.

OC LIVE Online — Motivation and Movement ~ A Discussion with Women

In this episode we revisit WEspeak spring 2019 with an inspirational speech given by Oxnard College student, Crystal Harris, live on stage.  With the theme of “moving forward,” Crystal joins Oxnard College Communication Studies Professor Dr. Amy Edwards, Film Professor Anitra N. Lawson and Oxnard College Student Health Coordinator Dr. Deanna McFadden for a powerful conversation about protecting mental and emotional health, fighting to overcome trauma, and living your best life!  

Santa Barbara Earth Day and Partners Announce Community Mural Artists

The Community Environmental Council (CEC), The Arts Fund, Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara, Paseo Nuevo, and Santa Barbara BCycle are delighted to announce is proud to announce that artists Adriana Arriaga and Claudia Borfiga have been selected from an online Call For Entries to paint the 2021 Earth Day Mural. The Call For Entries prompted Santa Barbara County artists to respond to this year’s Earth Day Festival theme: Climate Leadership. The mural by Arriaga and Borfiga, entitled Nurture our Mother, is a celebration of the power of the Earth and the many magical things within it that play vital roles in our ecosystem.

Our Lady of Mount Carmel School Fostering Community with Movie Night Under the Stars

The Our Lady of Mount Carmel School community celebrated Spring with their annual Spring Raffle drawing and Family Movie Night on the grass, on Saturday, April 17, 2020. The school came together in a socially distanced way by reserving family circles and staying masked during the viewing of Raya and the Last Dragon. In addition to the movie hosted by the Parent Board Guild, there was a raffle drawing that awarded cash prizes. Congratulations to all of the raffle winners. The annual Spring Raffle raises much needed money to help support the operations of the school.

Museum of Ventura County — Changemakers Series + New Virtual Learning Module + More!

The Museum of Ventura County is pleased to present the next installment in its series of conversations with Changemakers.

You are invited to join us on Thursday, April 29, 2021 from 6:30—7:30PM for Changemakers: Local Heroes Combatting Climate Change. Admission is free with registration.

Panelists include Dr. Chris Funk, Director of the Climate Hazard Center at UCSB and author of Drought, Flood, Fire: How Climate Change Contributes to Recent Catastrophes, Hans Cole, Director of Environmental Campaigns and Advocacy at Patagonia, Florencia Ramirez, Ventura County Climate Emergency Council and author of Eat Less Water, and Michelle Stevens, Founder of the Refill Shoppe, public artist and environmental activist. This is not to be missed!

Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara — Adriana Arriaga and Claudia Borfiga have been selected to paint the 2021 Earth Day Mural

The Arts Fund, Community Environmental Council, Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara, Paseo Nuevo, and Santa Barbara BCycle are delighted to announce that artists Adriana Arriaga and Claudia Borfiga have been selected to paint the 2021 Earth Day Mural! Selected from over 27 submissions, the Call For Entries prompted our artists to respond to this year’s Earth Day Festival theme: Climate Leadership. The mural by Arriaga and Borfiga, entitled Nurture our Mother, is a celebration of the power of the Earth and the many magical things within it that play vital roles in our ecosystem.

Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival 2021 Highlights Announced; Virtual Event April 22 – 24 Gathers Community to #CelebrateClimateLeadership

The Community Environmental Council (CEC) is hosting #CelebrateClimateLeadership, a virtual Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival dedicated to inspiration, community building, and climate action. The FREE livestream event begins on Thursday, April 22 at noon and runs until Saturday, April 24. It will be available to view at SBEarthDay.org.

The virtual Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival – which will be fully online again this year due to ongoing COVID-19 restrictions – is FREE to attend and will feature three days of conversations with climate leaders, musical performances, art contests, inspirational speakers, and opportunities for individuals to learn how they can lean into action at this urgent moment.

SEEAG Kicks Off 2nd ‘Let’s Grow A Garden’ At-Home Student Learning Program through April 23

For the second year, Students for Eco-Education and Agriculture (SEEAG) is hosting its “Let’s Grow A Garden”–an at-home garden program for students in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties that teaches kids how to grow vegetables while learning healthy eating habits and proper nutrition.

“‘A garden gives kids a sense of accomplishment as they care for their plants and then harvest their crops. They also come to appreciate the role of our local farmers and the importance of eating healthy,” says Mary Maranville, SEEAG’s founder and CEO.

To help start their gardens, Agromin, an Oxnard-based manufacturer of earth-friendly soil products, composts and mulches made from recycled organic materials, is giving away 4-quart bags of potting soil to Let’s Grow A Garden participants. The bags (one per child) are available at Agromin (201 Kinetic Drive, Oxnard) April 19 through Aprils 23, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in the Agromin parking lot.

Friendship Center — Dine & Donate Deliciousness on April 21 – Reserve yours now!

LIMITED SUPPLY – Please reserve yours now
$upport Friendship Center with a delicious dinner! Thanks to our partners Santa Barbara Association of Realtors (SBAOR)
***Please note, entrée selections are chosen at the end of the checkout process, with your choice of enchiladas, taco bar or chicken fajitas, with options available. Generous portions with all the fixings are large enough for two or more people and include two margaritas. 

Santa Barbara City College — The Bridge — ‘SBCC ranked No. 2 Community College in the U.S. for 2021’ and more news

Best Value Schools has ranked Santa Barbara City College as the No. 2 Best Online College among community colleges in the nation for 2021. Their rankings explore multiple categories designed to help students looking for the best and most affordable schools including amenities and overall valuable college experiences that suit their needs. Read more…

Santa Barbara First District Supervisor Das Williams — My Turn, Appointments, Webinar for Businesses, & A Look at Last Year

The Santa Barbara County Public Health Department is beginning a phased roll-out of the My Turn scheduling platform offered by the State of California. 

The My Turn tool is part of an effort by state health leaders to organize California’s broad-reach vaccination drive, consisting of public and private health systems, pharmacies, hospitals, community health clinics, pop-up sites, and mobile sites.