Area Meeting in October

Area Meeting Presented by the Santa Barbara Arts Collaborative 

Area Meeting, the dynamic gathering of artists, creators, and community members, will host its monthly meeting on Tuesday, October 14th at the Community Arts Workshop in Santa Barbara. Presented by the Santa Barbara Arts Collaborative and Artist, Patrick Melroy, Area Meeting is designed as a rallying point for local creatives. This event offers an invigorating evening of artistic presentations, lively discussions, and thoughtful feedback—plus a table of curated snacks that bring people together in the spirit of collaboration and inspiration.

A Place for Creative Exchange
At its core, Area Meeting is an open forum where the local creative community can gather to explore the meaning behind art and the processes driving it. The event features a keynote presentation from a career artist who will share images of their work, giving a place-in-time snapshot of their practice. This talk will explore the intricacies, struggles, and breakthroughs of a life devoted to art, setting the tone for an evening designed to spark new ideas, questions, and connections.

Real-Time Feedback and DialogueOur October keynote speaker will be photographer and activist, Barbara Parmet. Parmet will lead a discussion that addresses power dynamics for all artists (including poetry, performance, music, and the visual arts), and the benefits of greater recognition in the arts community while creating a healthier, more productive and richer arts culture in Santa Barbara. 

With over years of experience as a photo journalist and artist, Barbara will candidly explore the struggles of gaining recognition in the arts community tracing the circuitous pathways of possibility that each artist develops over time in order to make a life as an artist in this place we call Santa Barbara.

The second half of Area Meeting is an open discussion with selected artists presenting physical work—unfinished pieces, experimental projects, or newly completed works—inviting direct input from attendees. Led by facilitator Patrick Melroy, these candid, respectful critiques grant audiences a unique window into an artist’s thought process before the work has been sealed with a final opinion. It’s a rare opportunity for both artists and viewers to engage in meaningful, two-way dialogue not typically available in traditional gallery or museum settings.

Area Meeting is an Event for Everyone
Area Meeting welcomes anyone who has ever craved deeper understanding of the artistic process. Whether you’re an avid gallery-goer left with lingering questions after a show, a fledgling creator in need of community insight, or a seasoned artist seeking fresh perspectives, Area Meeting is for you. The event breaks down the barriers that so often keep art appreciation at a distance, allowing attendees to trade insights, debate ideas, and consider new approaches—all with a mouth delightfully half-full of a thoughtfully prepared snack.

Join us at Area Meeting for a truly unique evening of art, conversation, and connection. For more information, please contact Adrienne De Guevara at adrienne@artscollaborative.org.