April 18, 2014 – Local museums and cultural organizations are celebrating International Museum Day and invite the community to join them. Participating institutions include Casa de la Guerra, El Presidio de Santa Bárbara State Historic Park, Rancho La Patera & Stow House, Santa Barbara Maritime Museum, and Santa Barbara Museum of Art―offering free admission on Saturday, May 18. Other organizations, such as Casa Dolores, Elverhoj Museum, Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara, and Santa Barbara Historical Museum are typically free or appreciate a donation for admission, but are also encouraging visitors to support the spirit of this day.
International Museum Day has been celebrated all over the world since 1977. In 2013, 35,000 museums from 143 countries on five continents participated in the event―representing record-breaking involvement.
Each year, a theme is decided on by the International Council of Museums (ICOM) Advisory Committee. For 2014, the theme is “Museum collections make connection.” This theme is a reminder that museums are living institutions that help creating bonds between visitors, generations and cultures around the world.
Spearheading this local effort is MACA (Museums and Cultural Attractions) of Santa Barbara, a consortium of marketing professionals from County nonprofit organizations dedicated to collaborative promotion of the region’s museums and cultural attractions.
Participating organizations and associated special exhibitions on May 18:
Casa de la Guerra
15 East De la Guerra Street, Santa Barbara
Open Friday – Sunday 12 – 4 pm
www.sbthp.org
On View: I See Beauty in this Life: A Photographer Looks at 100 Years of Rural California
Casa Dolores
1023 Bath Street, Santa Barbara
Open Tuesday – Saturday 12 – 4 pm (Will also be open Sunday, May 18. Refreshments will be served.)
www.casadolores.org
On View: El Arbol de la Vida / The Tree of Life
El Presidio de Santa Bárbara State Historic Park
123 East Canon Perdido Street, Santa Barbara
Open daily 10:30 am – 4:30 pm
www.sbthp.org
On View: Nihonmachi Revisited: Santa Barbara’s Japanese American Community in Transition, 1900-1940
Elverhoj Museum of History & Art
1624 Elverhoy Way, Solvang
Open Wednesday – Sunday, 11 am – 4 pm
www.elverhoj.org
On View: Channing Peake’s Santa Ynez Valley and Vikings
Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara
653 Paseo Nuevo, Santa Barbara
Open Tuesday – Saturday 11 am – 5 pm, Sunday 12 – 5 pm
www.sbcaf.org
Rancho La Patera & Stow House
Goleta Valley Historical Society
304 N. Los Carneros Road, Goleta
Open Saturday and Sunday for tours at 2 pm and 3 pm
www.goletahistory.org
Santa Barbara Historical Museum
136 East De La Guerra Street, Santa Barbara
Open Tuesday – Saturday 10 am – 5 pm, Sunday 12 – 5 pm
www.santabarbaramuseum.com
Santa Barbara Maritime Museum
113 Harbor Way Suite 190, Santa Barbara
Open every day (except Wednesdays and major holidays) 10 am – 6 pm (Memorial Day to Labor Day)
Other days 10 am – 5 pm
www.sbmm.org
Santa Barbara Museum of Art
1130 State Street, Santa Barbara
Open Tuesday – Sunday 11 am – 5 pm, Thursday 11 am – 8 pm
www.sbma.net
On View: Living in the Timeless: Drawings by Beatrice Wood amd Heavenly Bodies