This post is the first of a couple that will highlight great opportunities for young artists. If you are a young, up-and-coming artist, this mentorship provided by The Arts Fund is a way to get some very unique professional experience from an expert. Mentorships are provided in 6 specialized fields. I’m getting the word out a bit late in the game, the application deadline is a week from today. So, if you are just hearing about this for the first time, it is time to get a move on.

Please pass along the word to any young artists you might know. You can download the application here.

The Arts Fund is proud that it is offering 2 NEW MENTORSHIPS in CREATIVE WRITING and POETRY in addition to Bronze Casting, Contemporary Painting, Digital Documentary Photography and Mixed Media.  The 2012 Teen Arts Mentorship class descriptions and applications are now available on our website: www.artsfundsb.orgSTUDIO 240 will be the host of our Creative Writing mentor class this spring, and we are excited about our new partnership with Santa Barbara’s largest commercial photography studio and fantastic event space!                        www.240studio.com Other 2012 sponsors include: Art Resources, MacMechanic, Santa Barbara City College, Santa Barbara County Arts Commission, Santa Barbara Foundation, Towbes Foundation, and Wood-Claeyssens Foundation

I’m really looking forward to this clever exhibition. This is a really interesting and eclectic group of artists brought together not through academic theme or stylistic similarities, but by their commonality as artist married to artists. It will be exciting to see what curator Nancy Gifford (an excellent artist in her own right) brings from this group.

Come hang out at The Arts Fund in the Funk Zone this Saturday from 5 – 7. And might I suggest La Tour for after-reception drinks?

    

I’ve been alluding to this combined event for a few days now. There is so much going on, art-wise, this Saturday that I will not be able to highlight all of them here. However, this particular collaboration is something incredibly special, not only because it offers a great opportunity to see some beautiful art, but also because it marks the first attempt in a very long time to create an combined event in the Funk Zone that is greater than the sum of its parts.

If that doesn’t get you excited about the event, then get excited because of the great art, and the opportunity to hear the artists talk about their work. I attended the Arts Fund IAA award ceremony last week, so I can say from experience that the work there is really impressive.  Start off at Cabana Home with a tour from artist, Mollie Favour. Then make your way over to The Arts Fund for a talk from some of the award winners and honorable mentions.  It should be a really wonderful experience.  Details below.

THE ARTS FUND & CABANA HOME HOST FUNK ZONE ARTISTS TALKS
This Saturday, September 17, Funk Zone neighbors The Arts Fund and Cabana Home will be hosting two separate artists talks. From 4 – 6 p.m. Cabana Home in collaboration with Edward Cella Art and Architecture, will present a solo exhibition with contemporary painter, Mollie Favour.  Mollie Favour, New Works, is the ninth in an on-going sequence of exhibitions organized by gallerist Edward Cella of Art and Architecture in collaboration with Caroline and Steve Thompson, principals of Cabana Home. Following Mollie Favour’s talk, please join The Arts Fund just blocks down the street (205C Santa Barbara Street) for its own artist talk with a few of the 2011 IAA Winners and Honorable Mentions in Figurative Works and Printmaking.  The Gallery will be open after hours 5:30 to 7 with the walk-through starting at 6:00 p.m. with the artists guiding and speaking about their processes and works. The Arts Fund is pleased to invite Funk Zone tasting room Corks N’ Crowns to the gallery providing a variety of wine and beer. Both talks are FREE and open to the public.  Arts Fund Executive Director Nina Dunbar is pleased by this collaboration and looks forward to promoting more arts-related activities in the Funk Zone – “Our neighborhood has always been arts firendly and this cooperative opening is the start of what I hope will be a growing list of events that show-off the diversity of creative ventures in this part of town.” For more information, please contact Catherine Gee at info@artsfundsb.org or Steve Thompson atsteve@cabanahome.com

The second of three big art events happening this weekend is the big Individual Artist Award Ceremony on Saturday. This is one of The Arts Fund‘s biggest events of the year and is a great place for art lovers to familiarize themselves with some of our local talent in the visual and performance arts.  It is a free event, but it is also a fundraiser with the opportunity to win art-related items from a silent auction.  Make sure to check out The Arts Fund’s website for a preview of the auction items and to get a look at work by this years winners.

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The Individual Artist Award (IAA) promotes creative excellence in Santa Barbara County. Funded entirely through private donations, the IAA is a vital component in sustaining the artistic vitality of our community.  Artists are rewarded for their professional achievements and introduced to new audiences in their own community.  For many, receiving the IAA is the right recognition at the right time–new works are created and new doors are opened for their careers.  For others, the IAA’s greatest reward is to be recognized by friends and colleagues in their home town. Please join us Saturday, September 10 from 5 to 7:30 at The Arts Fund Gallery for a fun evening of art, music, and arts-friendly silent auction items to benefit the IAA.  Admission is free. The Arts Fund Gallery 205C Santa Barbara Street (at Yanonali) Santa Barbara, CA 93101 (805) 965-7321

I’ve been a bit slow getting our local art news out there over the passed few weeks, so I wanted to take the time to make sure to let you all know that this call for entries is a wonderful opportunity that should not be passed up. Please share this information will all your artists friends.

Applications are due  SATURDAY, June 11!!!

All submittal materials and entry fees must be postmarked or received at The Arts Fund Gallery by Saturday June 11, 2011 by 5:00 p.m. Materials should be delivered to:  205-C Santa Barbara Street  Santa Barbara, CA 93101.

DIGITAL IMAGE REQUIREMENT CHANGE: Please note that the image requirements have been updated for Printmaking and 2-D Figurative Work submissions to be  72 dpi with the longest dimesion set to no more than750 pixels.

2011 AWARD CATEGORY DESCRIPTIONS

Applications can still be downloaded through our website:http://www.artsfundsb.org or by visiting The Arts Fund Gallery at 205-C Santa Barbara Street at Yanonali.