Access for All
Endowment donors secure the future of ¡Viva el Arte de Santa Bárbara!
Mariachi, salsa, cumbia, and folklórico dance. Afro-Mexican fusions, border soul, son jarocho, and Colombian swing jazz. ¡Viva el Arte de Santa Bárbara! embodies the joyful diversity of Latin American music and culture. Through their generous support of the ¡Viva! endowment, donors are helping to expand the program’s promise of access for all — in perpetuity.
UCSB Arts & Lectures is known for bringing high-caliber performances to Santa Barbara County, and ¡Viva! continues this tradition. Since 2006, the UCSB Arts & Lectures collaboration has brought Spanish-language Grammy award-winners and cultural ambassadors to schools and community centers. ¡Viva! was created with the idea that everyone deserves access to the arts.
“¡Viva! was created to fill a Spanish-language cultural programming and education gap in Santa Barbara County. Twenty years later, it’s stronger than ever and has become a cornerstone in our community. It’s a meeting place for people of all ages,” said Jenna Hamilton-Rolle, director of education and community engagement for UCSB Arts & Lectures.
¡Viva! hosts five different artists throughout the year. A typical residency begins with two days of Isla Vista classroom workshops that bring students close to the performers, followed by a Friday concert. On Saturday, the artists travel to the small town of Guadalupe to perform at City Hall. The residency concludes on Sunday at Santa Barbara’s Marjorie Luke Theatre. This community-oriented progression reflects the thoughtful partnership between the Isla Vista Parent-Teacher Association, Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center, Marjorie Luke Theater, and UCSB Arts & Lectures.
“Through the generous support of donors who have contributed to the endowment effort, we are able to expand those services further. This year, on Thursdays, we’re adding a performance at the Carpinteria Veterans Memorial Building at a time when Carpinteria needs joy and inspiration from the cultural arts more than ever,” said Jenna.
The expansion reflects a broader commitment to sustaining access to the arts across the county. That vision is what inspires supporters like Natalie Orfalea H’13, a longtime supporter of UCSB Arts & Lectures who has loved watching ¡Viva! Evolve.
“In a time when we’re seeing so many cuts at the university, city, and community levels, stability for ¡Viva el Arte de Santa Bárbara! is essential. The endowment ensures that culture, heritage, and exposure to the arts will continue for people in marginalized communities,” said Natalie. All ¡Viva! events are free and family friendly. Each year, they serve more than 15,000 community members and students like Ely Garcia, who was in sixth grade when she first saw Mariachi Reyna de Los Angeles perform through ¡Viva!
“It was only 15 years ago that I saw Mariachi Reyna de Los Angeles in this very theater, the Marjorie Luke Theater. I got so inspired to practice very hard to make my way to Mariachi Reyna, and I’m really proud to have been part of this year’s show,” said Ely in 2024. Ely’s story embodies the inspiration that flows between ¡Viva! performers and audiences. That sense of belonging resonates with Dorothy Largay H’18, co-chair of the UCSB Arts & Lectures Council.
“As someone who has attended ¡Viva! concerts for the past five years, I have witnessed the joy and pride experienced by members of our community who have had few opportunities to attend other Arts & Lectures events,” said Dorothy. “As a firm believer that the arts are for all of us, I am proud to support the ¡Viva el Arte de Santa Bárbara! program this year and for many years to come.”
Published November 2025
As a firm believer that the arts are for all of us, I am proud to support the ¡Viva el Arte de Santa Bárbara! program this year and for many years to come.
Dorothy Largay