Viva El Arte

Música, Danza, y Mucho Más

¡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. This season will feature five fantastic performing groups: Perla Batalla, Ballet Folklórico de Los Ángeles, Mariachi Reyna de Los Angeles, Quitapenas, and Jarabe Mexicano. All events are free and family-friendly! Audience members are encouraged to stay after the performance for a reception with the artists. Public performances are at Isla Vista School on Fridays, Guadalupe City Hall on Saturdays, and The Marjorie Luke Theatre on Sundays.

2023-2024 Season

Sunday, September 10 – Perla Batalla
Sunday, October 15 – Ballet Folklórico de Los Ángeles
Sunday, January 21 – Mariachi Reyna de Los Angeles
Sunday, March 10 – Quitapenas
Sunday, May 19 – Jarabe Mexicano

Show Dates

¡Viva el Arte de Santa Bárbara! was founded in 2006 on the belief that everyone deserves access to the inspiration and joy of live performance. A leader in community outreach in Santa Barbara County, Viva is a collaboration between Isla Vista School, the Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes Center, The Marjorie Luke Theatre, and UCSB Arts & Lectures. Each Viva weekend starts with cultural programming in schools and afterschool programs, and culminates in free performances of music and dance that distinguish our Latino heritage at neighborhood venues in Isla Vista, Santa Barbara, and Guadalupe.

¡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.