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Vacant Window Beautification Program

The Downtown Santa Barbara Improvement Association (DSBIA), in partnership with the Santa Barbara Arts Collaborative (SBAC), and Santa Barbara County Office of Arts & Culture (SBCOAC) launched an ongoing initiative in 2025 called the Vacant Window Beautification Program. The program is designed to transform vacant storefronts along State Street into vibrant, eye-catching displays of local creativity. The program celebrates Santa Barbara’s artistic spirit by turning vacant windows into welcoming visual experiences for both the community and visitors. As part of DSBIA’s ongoing commitment to revitalize the downtown district, it brings together property owners, artists, and cultural partners to reimagine vacant spaces as opportunities for beauty and engagement.

The Downtown Santa Barbara Improvement Association (DSBIA) invites Santa Barbara County–based artists—those who live, work, or create art within the county—to submit existing original artwork in digital format for consideration in our new vacant window beautification program. All artwork is provided digitally, and selected pieces go into an artbank to later be enlarged, formatted to fit unique storefront dimensions, and printed on window film for building owners wanting to participate. If you are an artist interested in submitting work, reach out to windows@downtownsb.org.

Calling all Santa Barbara County-based artists! Submit existing original artwork for consideration in our new vacant window beautification program.

Click here to submit work for consideration

Guidelines & Considerations:

  • Artwork must be original and artists must hold full rights to submit their work.
  • Submissions must be digital and may include graphic art, photography, or scans of 2D flatwork.
  • Work should be designed to enhance surrounding architecture and complement downtown colors (terracotta, beige, green trees).
  • All work must be family-friendly and intended to beautify vacant storefronts.
  • No words, advertising, or signage elements may be included.
  • Artwork must be available in a vectorized format suitable for large-scale production.

For submission purposes, please:

  • Upload a JPEG or reduced-size version of the artwork for evaluation, and
  • Provide a cloud-based link (Google Drive, Dropbox, etc.) to access the full-resolution or vector file.

Who May Apply:

  • Open to artists who live, work, or create in Santa Barbara County.
  • Open to artists 18 and over.
  • Each artist may submit up to three (3) works for consideration. 


Selection Process & Honorarium:

  • Submissions will be reviewed by the DSBIA Placemaking & Identity Committee.
  • Selected works will first be added to a curated image bank.
  • If your work is later matched to a storefront installation, you will receive a $250 honorarium and your name will be included on the final print.
  • Artist information and credit will be incorporated into the final display design.

Licensing & Usage:

By submitting, artists grant DSBIA a license to digitally reproduce selected works for the purposes of the Vacant Window Beautification Program.

Artwork may be cropped, modified, framed with additional elements, and formatted to fit the space.

Please note window sizes vary and may be rectangular, curved, grid, etc.

Questions may be directed to windows@downtownsb.org

Click here to submit work for consideration