The Santa Barbara Foundation is proud to partner with our generous donors to support the performing arts through the Towbes Fund for the Performing Arts, which is awarded twice annually. These grants provide vital support to nonprofit organizations across Santa Barbara County that are enriching our community through music, theater, dance, and cultural expression.
Each grant recipient embodies the powerful role the arts play in uniting our communities, inspiring young people, and strengthening local economies. From historic theaters to youth-led initiatives and multicultural music education, this year’s first-cycle Towbes Fund nonprofit partners showcase the creativity, passion, and resilience of Santa Barbara’s performing arts landscape.
We’re thrilled to introduce four incredible organizations that received a 2025 Towbes Fund for the Performing Arts grant ahead of our next cycle, which will open on September 5, 2025: The Alcazar Theatre, Muffin Music, Youth ARTS Alive, and the Santa Barbara Master Chorale.
Carpinteria Community Theatre – The Alcazar
Founded in 1928, The Alcazar has been dedicated to bringing the performing arts to the Carpinteria community. The Alcazar offers something for everyone, including concerts, theatre, film, comedy, and more.
However, behind the scenes, the theatre faced operational challenges. With only an Executive Director and a production manager, plus ad hoc assistance mainly from volunteers, the theatre’s future depended on finding a way to strengthen its internal capacity.
Recognizing this need, The Alcazar applied for the Towbes Fund for the Performing Arts Grant, which allowed them to hire part-time help with event management, marketing, and volunteer coordination.
Funding from the Towbes Grant enables The Alcazar to expand its community reach and continue bringing vibrant performances to Carpinteria.
“Since joining the theatre around two years ago, we’ve implemented new programming based on community feedback, including more student performances, foreign films, and events with panel discussions,” said Debbie Nomura, Executive Director of The Alcazar. “However, we can’t do this without financial contributions, and we are so grateful for the support this grant has provided.”
With help from the Towbes Fund, The Alcazar is better equipped to meet community demand, enrich local cultural life, and continue serving Carpinteria with diverse, high-quality performing arts experiences.
Muffin Music was established when co-founders Sylvia Jiang and Davis Reinhart envisioned a new music education and performance experience for underserved communities. Based in Buellton, Muffin Music is dedicated to offering music education and enrichment opportunities for youth across Santa Barbara County, nurturing artists and opening doors for emerging talent.
Looking to broaden its programming and reach more students, Muffin Music applied to the Towbes Fund for the Performing Arts for key funding to support its mission of bringing high-quality music education to local youth. Currently, Muffin Music offers several programs, including a full-day music camp for students ages 8-18. The camp provides lessons, ensemble rehearsals, group workshops, and outdoor activities, culminating in a final showcase performance.
The Muffin Music Residency Program features free residency concerts in Santa Ynez and Santa Maria, held at Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church and Unity of Santa Maria Church. It also includes workshops and classes for students in public and private schools throughout the County. Coordinating lessons, rehearsals, performances, and school visits requires significant operational support.
Funding from the Towbes Grant supports these community outreach efforts, enabling Muffin Music to offer these events free of charge and reach schools that might otherwise lack access to arts instruction.
Youth ARTS Alive was founded in 2017 after 100 youth expressed the need for more positive activities in Santa Maria during a “Youth Town Hall Meeting,” following gang-related violence in their community. Speakers at the meeting emphasized the creation of arts and sports initiatives to provide alternatives to violence. Youth ARTS Alive stepped in and offered free performing and visual arts classes that summer.
In the summer of 2024, Youth ARTS Alive provided six weeks of free classes in music, theatre, dance, and visual arts for over 200 children at multiple community centers, including Minami Community Center, Robert Grogan Park, and Newlove Center. The classes were taught by 24 professional artists, with assistance from 15 Art Interns. Santa Barbara Foundation’s Towbes Fund for the Performing Arts Grant played a crucial role in making these programs possible, allowing Youth ARTS Alive to offer training, rehearsals, and performances at no cost to participating youth and their families.
Director Alma Flores shares, “At the end of their summer classes, our students perform for their families, friends, supporters and community in a Grand Performing Arts Fiesta. For some it is the first time they have appeared on a stage with other actors, dancers, singers, and musicians. We know this experience may light a flame in them that will grow into a love of performing.”
The Towbes grant also supports Performing Arts Fiestas at the Mussell Center and Veterans Memorial Building in Santa Maria, showcasing students’ work in theatre, dance, music, and visual arts. Students from all three class sites performed stories through comedy and drama, danced in styles from hip-hop to ballet folklórico, and showcased music on a variety of instruments and in many languages.
With funding from the Towbes Performing Arts Fund, Youth ARTS Alive has inspired young people to believe in their potential and brought together the Santa Maria community through the power of the arts.
The Santa Barbara Master Chorale (SBMC) is a longstanding volunteer community choral ensemble established in 1984. As a nonprofit, volunteer-driven choral organization, SBMC is committed to enriching Santa Barbara’s cultural life to foster vibrant, inclusive communities through the performing arts.
For over 40 years, SBMC has brought together singers from across the community to perform major works for chorus and orchestra, spanning a wide range of musical eras—from Renaissance and Baroque to Classical, Romantic, and Modern. In recent seasons, the Chorale has expanded its repertoire to include Latin American compositions, showcasing a dedication to cultural diversity and musical discovery.
Also valuing collaboration and education, the SBMC has featured local musicians and ensembles that reflect their superb levels of musicianship. Partnering with local high schools, the chorale has presented intergenerational performances, such as joint holiday concerts that celebrate the season and community spirit.
Looking ahead, SBMC wants to formulate programs that will provide opportunities for singers of all ages to refine their skills, especially high school students and those in underserved communities. Nurturing the next generation of vocal talent can very well reward the community with future performances of choral excellence by local participants, strengthening the artistic fabric of Santa Barbara for years to come.
Support from the Towbes Foundation plays a vital role in helping the Santa Barbara Master Chorale sustain its mission, expand its reach, and continue inspiring, connecting, and uplifting our community through the shared joy of music.
About
The Towbes Fund for the Performing Arts is dedicated to strengthening nonprofit organizations and expanding the capacity of the arts and social sector throughout Santa Barbara County. Established in 2012 by longtime Santa Barbara resident and business leader Michael Towbes, the fund was created at the Santa Barbara Foundation to support non
profit performing arts organizations and their venues across Southern California. This grant program invests in organizations that deliver high-quality performing arts experiences, with an emphasis on inclusivity and ensuring that opportunities reflect the rich diversity of Santa Barbara County. Eligible grant uses include the expansion of existing programs, the development of pilot initiatives, the production, presentation, or preservation of exceptional artistic works, and collaborative efforts that increase community access to the performing arts. The next grant cycle for the Towbes Fund for the Performing Arts Grant will open on September 5th, 2025.
For questions about the Towbes Fund for the Performing Arts Grants program and funding eligibility, or technical assistance, please contact Deanna Vallejo, Program Officer, at (805) 880-9385 Dvallejo@sbfoundation.org or Jessica Sanchez, Senior Director of Donor Relations, at Jsanchez@sbfoundation.org
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