Report Highlights Significant Employment and Industry Growth Trends
A new report highlights the significant economic impact of the region’s creative economy, generating $3.82 billion in activity and supporting thousands of local jobs.
Conducted by the UCSB Economic Forecast Project, the study examines strong growth across creative industries and their role in sustaining local employment and generating tax revenue across Santa Barbara County.
The report was presented to the County Board of Supervisors on March 3, 2026. The full report is available online at sbac.ca.gov/creative-economy.
The report was co-commissioned by the Economic Development Collaborative and Santa Barbara County Office of Arts and Culture.
“In economic development, we see a strong connection between a region’s creative assets— its artistic talent and cross-sector innovation— and overall economic performance,” said Bruce Stenslie, President and CEO of the Economic Development Collaborative.
A major finding of the report was that the creative economy represents 5% of employment in Santa Barbara County, supporting 11,232 jobs — comparable to manufacturing (12,955) and construction (12,639). During a presentation to the County Board of Supervisors on March 3, UCSB economics professor Peter Rupert noted that, “The economic output in Santa Barbara County is a hefty number. My best guess is that this is a lower estimate.”
The report analyzes twelve creative industry sectors, such as digital media, architecture and interior design, entertainment, publishing and printing, and visual and performing arts providers.
Among other metrics, the report shows that the creative economy has increased from $3.46 billion to $3.82 billion since 2019. It also generates approximately $1.30 billion annually in labor income and $469 million in total tax revenue.
The Santa Barbara Bowl was cited during the presentation as an example of the creative economy’s tangible benefits. The organization shared that they have 260 paid personnel at each concert.
Last year, they generated $12.3 million in annual revenue and reinvested $737,000 of those earnings into the local community through outreach programs.
Rick Boller, CEO of the Santa Barbara Bowl Foundation, said, “Creative work drives jobs, supports local businesses, and strengthens the fabric of our community. The data makes clear that the arts are essential infrastructure, not a luxury, for Santa Barbara’s long-term economic vitality.”
Solstice is one of the major events driving this. Good to see them featured in the photos.
But Solstice struggles to get the space it needs each year. The City of Santa Barbara promised to give them a permanent space. Instead, they gave it to a group called CAW. CAW charges Solstice and all other users huge fees. Paying their people well with that money. CAW places tight restrictions on how the space can be used. And gives Solstice too little time to create the huge, masterful projects that made it such a draw for decades.
Can the City please fulfill their promise and give the Workshop to Solstice to manage year round as promised?
And with billions of revenue created by Solstice and similar events, can they please get a bit more resources to attract the best possible artists?
Being a part of Santa Barbara’s “creative economy” at various levels for many years, I agree that much more must be done to accommodate Solstice. I don’t know what the Fiesta folks pay to use the Carriage Museum facilities, but there’s plenty of room on that property to accommodate the Solstice workshop for a few weeks out of the year…or longer. The Solstice parade could stage/start at Pershing Park and along Cabrillo to the Chromatic Gate/Cabrillo Ball Park. It’s nearly a flat surface the whole way, which would be much easier that slogging floats/displays up Santa Barbara Street. Solstice has outgrown Alameda Park, that’s for sure, so a larger venue to end the parade should be a priority. A Solstice parade and party along the waterfront would be much more “Santa Barbara” than it’s current route.
The liberals have destroyed Santa Barbra for tax revenue.. sad)
Why did you move to a liberal town? Oh wait, let me guess, your parents bought a house on the Mesa in 1938.
More nitwit nonsense.