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Vacant Window Beautification Program

The Downtown Santa Barbara Improvement Association (DSBIA), in partnership with the Santa Barbara County Office of Arts & Culture , the Santa Barbara Arts Collaborative , and Santa Barbara Signs, is proud to announce the launch of the Vacant Window Beautification Program. This new initiative 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.

Santa Barbara County–based artists—those who live, work, or create art within the county— are invited to submit new or existing original artwork in digital format for consideration in our new vacant window beautification program. Selected pieces will be enlarged, formatted to fit unique storefront dimensions, and printed on window film. Artists whose work is installed will receive a $250 honorarium. The deadline to submit is Friday, September 5, 2025.

Call for Entry

Artist Submissions Now Open!

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. 
  • All artwork must be provided digitally,
  • Work should 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.
  • Images must be scalable for large-format printing.
  • 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. ​

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. Only one will be selected.

Selection Process & Honorarium:

  • Submissions will be reviewed by the DSBIA Placemaking & Identity Committee.
  • Approved 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. 

Timeline

  • Deadline to submit: 11:45 pm on Friday, September 5, 2025
  • Initial call will remain open for 2 weeks, with potential for additional phases in the future.
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Questions may be directed to windows@downtownsb.org

Click here to submit your artwork for consideration!