Santa Barbara Museum of Art (SBMA)
1130 State St., Santa Barbara, California
Small but beautiful, the Santa Barbara Museum of Art (SBMA) is renowned for its extensive collection of French and English 19th- and early 20th-century art, as well as modernism and photography exhibits. It also housesPortrait of Mexico Today, the only intact mural in the US by celebrated Mexican artist David Alfaro Siqueiros.
Straddling the old and new, the Santa Barbara Museum of Art does well to incorporate the many cultures that call the area home, and a visit here is a bit like stepping into a scaled-down version of Manhattan’s Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art. The museum hosts all sorts of programs for kids and adults alike, from after-school and holiday classes to lectures and applied-arts workshops for adults.
The Santa Barbara Museum of Art is a must-visit for art and photography lovers.
Museum entry is free every Thursday from 5pm to 8pm.
The museum is wheelchair-accessible, and hearing-loop technology is available for hearing aid users.
The Santa Barbara Museum of Art is situated smack in the middle of downtown Santa Barbara, on the corner of State Street and East Anapamu Street, right behind the public library. Most downtown buses stop within a block of the museum. From the museum, the mission and the beach are each about a 25-minute walk away.
The Santa Barbara Museum of Art is a year-round attraction, though it’s at its busiest during summer months and on weekends. It’s open Tuesday–Sunday 11am–5pm and closed on Mondays, June 23, major holidays, and for one day during the annual Old Spanish Days–Fiesta celebrations.
Founded in the mid-1920s, the annual Old Spanish Days (or Fiesta) is an energetic celebration that pays homage to the city’s Spanish colonial history. During the 5-day event, visitors can expect craft markets and dance performances, along with parades, concerts, and special tours of local Spanish-era landmarks.
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