Ballet Folklórico de Los Ángeles performs a free concert at the Marjorie Luke Theatre (photo: Isaac Hernández de Lipa)
¡Viva el Arte de Santa Bárbara! brings people together to share the rich cultural heritage of Latin America, serving more than 15,000 students and community members each year throughout Santa Barbara County.
Viva builds bridges through live performance, shared experience and joyful, personal discovery. Created in 2006 out of a commitment to arts access for all, Viva works with dozens of local partners to present high-quality touring artists – Grammy winners and recognized cultural ambassadors – who share their knowledge, passion and commitment. Schools, neighborhood spaces and community centers come alive in these free programs for youth and families.
2024-2025 FREE Community Concerts
Las Cafeteras
Chicanx band from East Los Angeles known for blending son jarocho and spoken word
Fri, Sep 6 | 7 PM | Isla Vista Elementary
Sat, Sep 7 | 7 PM | Guadalupe City Hall
Sun, Sep 8 | 6 PM | Marjorie Luke Theatre
Mariachi Garibaldi de Jaime Cuellar
Delighting audiences throughout Mexico and the U.S. for the past 26 years
Fri, Nov 22 | 7 PM | Isla Vista Elementary
Sat, Nov 23 | 7 PM | Guadalupe City Hall
Sun, Nov 24 | 6 PM | Marjorie Luke Theatre
La Santa Cecilia
A modern-day creative hybrid of Latin culture, rock and world music
Fri, Jan 24 | 7 PM | Isla Vista Elementary
Sat, Jan 25 | 7 PM | Guadalupe City Hall
Sun, Jan 26 | 6 PM | Marjorie Luke Theatre
Las Guaracheras
All-women salsa sextet born in the city of Cali, Colombia
Fri, Mar 14 | 7 PM | Isla Vista Elementary
Sat, Mar 15 | 7 PM | Guadalupe City Hall
Sun, Mar 16 | 6 PM | Marjorie Luke Theatre
Ballet Nepantla
Explores cultures within the realm of dance, harmonizing contemporary ballet with traditional Mexican folk dance
Fri, May 16 | 7 PM | Isla Vista Elementary
Sat, May 17 | 7 PM | Guadalupe City Hall
Sun, May 18 | 6 PM | Marjorie Luke Theatre
¡Viva el Arte de Santa Bárbara! is a collaboration between UCSB Arts & Lectures, The Marjorie Luke Theatre, the Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes Center, and the Isla Vista School Parent Teacher Association serving Carpinteria, Santa Barbara, Goleta, Lompoc, Santa Maria, Guadalupe and New Cuyama.
Follow Viva on social media for updates and more information on free performances and workshops:
@vivaelartesantabarbara | @vivaelartesb
¡Viva el Arte de Santa Bárbara! is sponsored by Connie Frank & Evan Thompson, Kath Lavidge & Ed McKinley, Dorothy Largay & Wayne Rosing, Audrey & Timothy O. Fisher, UCSB Office of Education Partnerships, The Stone Family Foundation, Linda Stafford Burrows, and Anonymous. Additional support comes from the Santa Barbara County Arts Commission, the California Arts Council, and the National Endowment for the Arts. The program is supported in part by the Santa Barbara Independent, the Santa Maria SUN, El Latino CC, Radio Bronco, Entravision/Univision Costa Central, and the Santa Barbara Unified School District. Viva is co-presented by The Marjorie Luke Theatre, the Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes Center and UCSB Arts & Lectures, in partnership with the Isla Vista School Parent-Teacher Association.