SBTHP Co-hosts “Kids Draw Architecture” Program at Casa de la Guerra

By Kevin McGarry, Associate Director for Public Engagement 

On Sunday, May 18th, 2025, the Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation (SBTHP) partnered with the Architectural Foundation of Santa Barbara (AFSB) to bring over sixty youth (and their family members) to Casa de la Guerra for an educational afternoon of sketching and interacting with fellow aspiring architects and professional, Santa Barbara-based architects. One of those architects is Cass Ensberg who serves on the AFSB Board of Directors and created the Kids Draw Architecture program. Cass also recently joined SBTHP’s Board of Directors in January 2025, after serving on SBTHP’s Historic Resources Committee for a number of years. Recently, I had the opportunity to sit down with Cass to learn more about the Kids Draw Architecture program and get a recap of the successful youth program that took place on a sunny Sunday afternoon in May in the Casa de la Guerra courtyard.  

Tell us about the Architectural Foundation of Santa Barbara (AFSB) and the Kid’s Draw Architecture program. How did this program start and what do you hope the kids and our community get out of it?  

The Architectural Foundation of Santa Barbara was formed over forty years ago as a nonprofit 501(c)(3) with the purpose of providing educational programs that focus on the importance of design and design excellence in the built environment.  AFSB is the owner and protector of the beautiful Italianate Acheson House at the corner of Garden and Victoria streets where the offices and Acheson House Gallery are also located. 

The Kids Draw Architecture program was one of the first programs – envisioned and created as a program thirty-nine years ago to meet the educational responsibility by providing free sketch sessions for young children.  These sketch sessions are held in the spring and always at an important public building to educate about Santa Barbara’s architecture and what makes Santa Barbara different and unique from any other place. 

Other AFSB Programs include an annual High School Design Competition, Acheson House Gallery exhibitions, scholarships to local students (given out at our annual Scholarship Reception and Awards Ceremony),  Historic Walking Tours, and other AFSB-sponsored events including lectures and film screenings. Throughout June 2025, AFSB will be offering walking tours and lectures about the 1925 Earthquake!  

The Architectural Foundation recently partnered with SBTHP to host the latest Kid’s Draw Architecture program at Casa de la Guerra on Sunday, May 18th, 2025. Why did you choose Casa de la Guerra this year?  

Courtesy of the Architectural Foundation of Santa Barbara.

We chose Casa de la Guerra for many reasons – again – to highlight and educate important public buildings and sites – the important history of Casa de la Guerra, as well as central location and proximity to City Hall, De La Guerra Plaza and El Paseo. Casa de la Guerra’s important design and construction exemplifies early Santa Barbara, and the beauty of all of it.  We also knew the lawn of De La Guerra Plaza would be a good place to also enjoy the day and have a great view of Casa de la Guerra for sketching.  Also, as part of the education for the kids, we provide a history of the place we are at – in both Spanish and English. 

Anything else you’d like to share about KDA? 

The 2025 Kids Draw Architecture calendars will be sold at AFSB and at local bookstores (Chaucer’s, Book Den, Tecolote).  They will also be for sale at SBTHP’s gift shops (at El Presidio SHP and Casa de la Guerra)!  In November, we will also be framing all the kids’ drawings, and we will hang them in the AFSB Acheson House Gallery. We will then plan a Sunday afternoon student exhibit opening and reception to both honor and celebrate all the incredible drawings created by our Kids Draw participants this year.