Santa Barbara School of the Arts

Vintage black-and-white photo of the Alcheama Center building, a two-story structure with a tiled roof, surrounded by cars from the mid-20th century, trees, and a stone wall in front. Sign indicates "ALHECAMA CENTER" and "EXIT ONLY".

Alhecama Art Studios, view from Canon Perdido Street, c. 1940, courtesy of the Presidio Research Center.

The Santa Barbara School of the Arts opened in 1922 as part of the Community Arts Association. When its original nearby home was destroyed in the 1925 earthquake that damaged much of downtown Santa Barbara, the school built a new theater, painter’s studio (now the Presidio Research Center), and a series of temporary wooden structures. These “temporary” structures, once used as offices, classrooms and art studios, are still standing today.

The School of the Arts survived until 1932 when its funding sources dried up due to the Great Depression. During its brief existence, the school hosted nationally-famous artists, musicians and performers as teaching faculty and students, while also offering classes to local Santa Barbara residents at little to no cost.

Visit El Presidio de Santa Bárbara State Historic Park

SOURCES

Spencer, Russ. “Long Live the Alhecama.” Santa Barbara Magazine Winter, 1995, 48-52.