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Artistic Adventures
Are you interested in nurturing your own inner artiste, developing a new talent or going behind the scenes? Santa Barbara offers an array of unforgettable artistic adventures that will tap into your creative side and leave you feeling inspired. Whether you want to paint, dance or meet fellow artists, get carried away by the "alma" of Santa Barbara and immerse yourself in our free spirited creative haven with these unique hands-on activities.
- Find out why Santa Barbara is a serious international destination for the arts by meeting with professional artists firsthand. You can actually witness artists working in their art studios, which are open to the public year-round by appointment through Santa Barbara Studio Artists.
- Meet your own inner artiste at Artiste Gallery & Tasting Studio, a combination art studio/gallery and wine-tasting room in Los Olivos. Take a paintbrush in one hand to dabble on canvas, while holding a wine glass in the other.
- Art From Scrap will make you rethink the way you view discarded materials. Partake in hands-on art activities and walk through the AFS Gallery to discover creative and artistic solutions for recycled "scraps". One's man's trash truly becomes another's treasure here!
- Have a penchant for photography? Sheppard Photography offers intermediate digital art and photography workshops and world-renowned Brooks Institute of Photography offers weekend workshops.
- Sway your hips to the rhythms of Salsa music in classes for beginners and intermediates with Santa Barbara Salsa. Latin American dance devotees can sign up for private lessons in Salsa, Cha Cha, Merengue or Bachata.
- If you want to experience a wide spectrum of dance styles, Cruz Dance Studio wears many different dancing shoes. From Flamenco to tap and even clogging, this dance studio definitely does not miss a step!
- If you still have the dancing fever, try swing dancing with Jonathan & Sylvia. They've been dancing partners for over 40 years and offer Friday and Saturday night classes.
- Dance the night away while sampling Latin American cuisine at the romantic Café Buenos Aires. Be sure to bring your tango partner on Wednesdays.
- From mastering the ancient art of glass blowing to transforming succulent chocolate into an artistic masterpiece, Captain Jack's "Taste of Santa Barbara" Culinary & Art Tour provides a taste of it all.
- Unearth your inner garden designer and master gardening techniques with inspiring classes and workshops offered by the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden. The Garden also offers a painting class that teaches how to capture the structure and beauty of native wildflowers in vibrant watercolors.
