Santa Barbara Museum of Art

 

Santa Barbara Museum of Art

The Santa Barbara Museum of Art (SBMA) is an art museum in downtown Santa Barbara, California.It was founded in 1941 and has both a permanent and temporary collection. Its permanent collection includes exhibits of Eastern, American, and European art spanning more than 4,000 years, from ancient to modern times.Santa Barbara Museum of Art, ca. 1941. Santa Barbara Museum of Art Archives

The Santa Barbara Museum of Art opened its doors to the public on June 5, 1941, in the building that had previously housed the Santa Barbara Post Office (1914-1932). Local artist Colin Campbell Cooper proposed the idea for an art museum after learning that the post office was going to be sold. Cooper proposed in a letter to the editor published in the July 1937 issue of the Santa Barbara News-Press that the impressive Italianate structure be converted into a museum. The proposal was accepted, and the Santa Barbara Museum of Art opened just four years after Cooper's letter was published, thanks to the support of local businesses, politicians, and art collectors. The Museum's first rooms, including the Ludington Area, Thayer Gallery, von Romberg Gallery, Campbell Gallery, and Gould Gallery, were designed by David Adler, a renowned Chicago architect. Wright S. Ludington, one of the Museum's key founding members, worked for the organisation for more than 50 years, eventually becoming president in the 1950s. Most notably, Henri Matisse and Edgar Degas, as well as Joseph Stella, Georges Braque, Pablo Picasso, and Joan Miró.

History

Circa 1941, Santa Barbara Museum of Art. Archives of the Santa Barbara Museum of Art The Santa Barbara Museum of Art first opened its doors to the public on June 5, 1941, in what was once the Santa Barbara Post Office (1914–1932). When he learned that the post office was going to be sold, local artist Colin Campbell Cooper had the idea for an art museum. Cooper proposed turning the impressive Italianate structure into a museum in a letter to the editor published in the Santa Barbara News-Press in July 1937. The Santa Barbara Museum of Art was officially established four years ago after gaining momentum in town and with the support of local businesses, politicians, and art collectors.

HOURS

Closed on Thursday, June 30th for inventory.

Tuesday through Saturday, 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sundays, 10 a.m. to 5

Open until 8 p.m. on Thursdays.

Mondays and holidays are closed.