Call for Artists for Pianos on State

Source: City of Santa Barbara

The Office of Arts and Culture is pleased to announce the call for artists and sponsors for Pianos on State 2019. This interactive musical exhibition on State Street is celebrating its 10th year and will run from October 22 through November 8, 2019. Painted pianos will be available for melodious exploration, impromptu play and group performances.

Piano artists are selected through a competitive design submission process and panel. All members of the community interested in painting a piano are encouraged to submit their ideas online at www.pianosonstate.com. Artist applications and sponsorships are due by September 15. Selected artists receive a $200 stipend toward supplies. Selected artists will paint the pianos over the weekend of October 18, 2019 at the Community Arts Workshop (CAW) located at 631 Garden Street in Santa Barbara.

Pianos on State represents a unique collaboration to provide arts exposure for all ages and enhance the cultural vibrancy of Santa Barbara. Over the past decade, the program has received an extraordinarily positive reception from the community so organizers are  extending the piano exhibition to almost three weeks. Producing partners include the Santa Barbara Bowl, city of Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara Arts Collaborative, Santa Barbara Education Foundation and Downtown Santa Barbara. The Santa Barbara Education Foundation helps facilitate pop-up student concerts and nationally renowned musicians often offer surprise performances as well. 

The Santa Barbara Bowl provides primary funding for the project and stores the pianos during the year. The cohort also accepts local sponsorships to help underwrite the costs of tuning and transporting the pianos, which are affixed to designated public art pads along the State Street corridor. To learn more about sponsoring, painting or playing a piano, visit www.pianosonstate.com.