Cello virtuoso Yo-Yo Ma with UCSB Arts & Lectures Miller McCune Executive Director Celesta M. Billeci. (photo: Isaac Hernandez)
Billeci celebrates 25 years at the helm of Arts & Lectures in the organization’s 65th anniversary year
SUMMARY
- The Santa Barbara County Office of Arts and Culture will recognize UCSB Arts & Lectures’ Miller McCune Executive Director Celesta M. Billeci with a 2024 Leadership in Arts Individual Award
- A resolution formalizing the award will be presented to the County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, October 8
- Celesta M. Billeci joined UCSB Arts & Lectures as executive director in 2000 from UCLA Live
- She is the previous recipient of Jerry Willis Leadership in Arts Award (2015) from the Western Arts Alliance
- Billeci was recognized by The Santa Barbara Independent as Local Hero in 2003 and again with the A&L team in 2023 for Leadership in Performing Arts and Public Affairs
- UCSB Arts & Lectures, now in its 65th season, presents more than 100 events annually – from performances and talks to film screenings and educational programs for all ages
SANTA BARBARA — The Santa Barbara County Office of Arts and Culture Commission has voted unanimously to recognize Celesta M. Billeci, the Miller McCune Executive Director of UCSB Arts & Lectures, with the 2024 County of Santa Barbara Leadership in Arts Award.
The award program was established by the Commission in 2006 “to honor and recognize individuals or organizations that have made a significant impact on the arts and culture of our region through innovative thinking and exemplary commitment to promoting sustaining, and advancing our quality of life through the Arts.” Each year, one individual and one organization are honored during Arts & Humanities Month (October) for their exceptional contributions. The resolution formalizing the award will be presented to the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors at their upcoming meeting on October 8, 2024.
In documenting the award, the Commission offered the following statement on Billeci’s contribution to the Arts and Culture of Santa Barbara over the past 25 years.
“Since taking the helm of A&L in 2000, Celesta has transformed what was once a mostly campus-facing program into one of the largest and most respected public arts presenting programs in the nation. Her determination and passion is to present the best in the performing arts, public lectures, educational outreach programs and special events to audiences throughout Santa Barbara County. A&L presented 75 public events (many of them free of charge) in 2023-24 and over 100 educational outreach programs. All of these are the result of Celesta’s personal commitment to serve the UCSB campus and the Santa Barbara community.
With a hard-working staff, dedicated community partners, and generous donors, amazing initiatives have been launched over the years that continue to change lives and enrich our community. These include ¡Viva el Arte de Santa Barbara, created in 2006, to share the rich cultural heritage of Latin America with thousands of students and community members in Guadalupe, Isla Vista and Santa Barbara. Celesta launched A&L’s Access for All initiative providing dynamic learning experiences for K-12 students and lifelong learners serving more than 30,000 students and community members annually, including matinee field trips for students from across the county to special morning performances with A&L-sponsored performers at The Granada Theatre.
Celesta worked with generous donors and launched the Thematic Learning Initiative (TLI) to engage lifelong learners and local non-profit organizations in the community with visiting speakers and thinkers via focused small group interaction, master classes and workshops. Celesta’s drive to create meaningful opportunities for community engagement with the arts is unparalleled and inspiring. Here are a few other initiatives she launched, championed and/or supported – A&L’s Family Fun program; the Speaking with Pico series featuring beloved writer Pico Iyer in conversation with acclaimed authors, artists and thinkers; and the Justice for All series presenting vital programming addressing difficult societal challenges and positing solutions for progress.”
Billeci expresses her gratitude to the County and acknowledges others who have contributed to the success of the organization with the following statement:
“Thank you to the County Office of Arts and Culture, the arts Commissioners, and the supervisors for the Leadership in Arts Award. I appreciate the recognition as an individual, and I accept the honor on behalf of all the great people who have supported me and contributed to Arts & Lectures in the 25 years I have served as the organization’s Executive Director. My hard-working and loyal staff, both present and past; the faculty, staff, administration, and students of UCSB; and the many members of the Santa Barbara community who have attended events, made contributions, and devoted time and energy to serving on the A&L Council – thank you all from my heart.
Arts & Lectures shows how fundamental the experience of gathering for a live event is to a healthy community. Whether it’s the hum of animated voices as people file out of Campbell Hall after a great lecture, the shouts of approval and waves of applause that sweep through the room after an exciting dance number or a beautiful song, or the absorption of a roomful of students leaning in to hear a talented artist speak about their life’s work, there’s no substitute for the joy of all being in one place to witness something as a group.
This award comes as we embark on the 65th anniversary season of UCSB Arts & Lectures, and it is my greatest hope that, 65 years from now, a new generation will be celebrating the continuing success of Arts & Lectures in educating, entertaining, and inspiring Santa Barbara.”
ABOUT UCSB ARTS & LECTURES
Founded in 1959, UCSB Arts & Lectures (A&L) is the largest and most influential arts and lectures organization between Los Angeles and San Francisco. A&L annually presents more than a hundred public events, from critically acclaimed concerts and dance performances by world-renowned artists to talks by groundbreaking authors and film series at UCSB and Santa Barbara-area venues. With a mission to “educate, entertain and inspire,” A&L also oversees an outreach program that brings visiting artists and speakers into local classrooms and other venues for master classes, open rehearsals, discussions and more, serving K-12 students, college students and the general public.
UCSB Arts & Lectures gratefully acknowledges 2024-2025 Season Sponsor Sara Miller McCune.
UCSB Arts & Lectures gratefully acknowledges our Community Partners the Natalie Orfalea Foundation & Lou Buglioli for their generous support of the 2024-2025 season.