all Events

Cameron Schubert '25 (CCS Music Composition) invites you to A Celtic Reverie, a senior recital featuring guest musicians on piano, voice, Irish flute, tin whistle, and fiddle. 

Renowned NYC-based piano trio (violin, cello, piano) Longleash premieres a collection of new works written by CCS composers: Luca LaMarca '27, Leah Graalfs '27, Angus Malcomson '27, Kai Jenkin '26, Zachary Davis '27, and Talia Kennedy '26. FREE ADMISSION!

CCS Alumni Macduff Everton '81 (CCS Art) and Mary Heebner '73 (CCS Art) are presenting the exhibition "Polar Opposites" at the UCSB Library from January 27 to June 20, 2025.

UCSB Library is excited to present the works of Macduff Everton and Mary Heebner in the exhibition Polar Opposites.

Donavan and Maya met their first year at UCSB and have always supported each other's creative outlets. In 2024, Donavan and Maya were both named winners in UCSB’s HFA Give Day Contest for their submissions under prose and poetry. With Donavan’s background in music composition and Maya’s devotion to personal narrative writing, they produced a series of pieces that combine their storytelling talents. After Donavan produced a composition of Maya’s first publication, he named, “Maya’s Tree,” they decided to follow this trail, which led to this event.

Come see Lara Bartel ‘25 (CCS Music Composition) present her senior recital, I Dreamt of us Last Night! Experience a blend of original electronic and acoustic chamber music with performances from Lara and other UCSB students. The recital will feature a wide range of styles from fixed media and open instrumentation graphical scores to groove based pierrot ensemble music to industrial scream-rap and noise pop.

𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑪𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒎𝒊𝒄 𝑪𝒂𝒏𝒗𝒂𝒔 explores the intersection of painting and ceramics through a collection of works that turn traditional ceramic forms into dynamic, three-dimensional canvases. By combining elements of sculpture and painting, the exhibition questions what a canvas can be and invites viewers to see form and function in a new way.

The Office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities (URCA) and UCSB Library invite you to join us for an exhilarating event celebrating knowledge, innovation, and the art of effective communication. Hear students from diverse disciplines condense their research, insights, and enthusiasm into a three-minute presentation that captivates, enlightens, and leaves a lasting impact. 
 

Join UCSB Sustainability and EJA (Enviromental Justice Alliance) for a climate discussion panel to discuss global climate inequities

AI CoP Spring Symposium | April 28 – May 2, 2025

Join for a week-long symposium exploring the applications and implications of Artificial Intelligence at UCSB. Connect with campus AI scholars and practitioners, engage in meaningful discussions, and discover the latest research and AI innovations.

Drop by the College of Creative Studies (CCS) Art Gallery that regularly showcases the work of CCS Art students and artists from the greater Santa Barbara area. Whether you come to relive your art show at the CCS Gallery or just a walk tour during All Gaucho Weekend, all are welcome!

This event takes place from 11:00 - 1:00 pm and is part of All Gaucho Reunion Weekend 2025.

Join us for a special performance by the Mivos Quartet in collaboration with CCS Music Composition Faculty Andrew A. Watts. The concert will feature Watts' piece A Strobe Fractures Obsidian Night alongside works by Ingrid Laubrock, Henry Threadgill, Julie Herndon, and George Lewis. Free admission.

In collaboration with UCSB Reads, Health and Wellness invites you to an interactive afternoon of Speed Friending (similar to speed dating, but for making friendships!).  Please register in advance 

From the UC Santa Barbara Graduate Division:

The runners-up from the preliminary rounds will compete for a spot in the Grad Slam campus final on April 3.

Celebrate the end of the quarter, usher in Finals Week, and come join us for eating, discussing, and playing around with pi(e)! From circular pizza to baked goods, games, and fun as endless as pi itself - we're looking forward to having you there.

RSVP here.

Small marks and individual units combine to build a landscape and architecture greater than its own. The exhibition Soft Bodies brings together the distinctive work of two artists, Melinda Braathen and Liz Stringer, each offering a unique perspective on the delicate interplay between the individual and the collective. The exhibition examines impermanence, transformation, and the evolving relationship between the sacred and the performative.

Join us for an evening of music that explores the depth and complexity of sound through a range of styles and emotions. Layers, a senior recital by OBSD Vision Fellow Donavan Walker '25 (CCS Music Composition)! Experience Live original music composed by Donavan Walker and stunning voice acting from Justin Sanchez '26 (UCSB Department of Theater and Dance)! Doors open at 4:30 PM, and TICKETS ARE FREE for everyone!

WHEN: FEBRUARY 22nd 5PM (doors open at 4:30PM)

Join the Community Council this Friday for a de-stressing event where you will get to make crafts and enjoy some snacks!

The College of Creative Studies Art Gallery and the American Indian and Indigenous Student Association (AIISA) at UC Santa Barbara would like to invite you to the closing event for Jackson Hunt’s exhibition Some of All Parts on February 1, 2025 at 2:00PM.

Performance at 2:00PM

Artist Conversation at 3:00PM

CCS Marine Science Faculty Dave Valentine will be hosting a talk as a part of Profs at the Pub—a free speaker series featuring UC Santa Barbara professors. 

Science and Disasters - An Unusual Pairing

The College of Creative Studies Art Gallery is pleased to present SOME OF ALL PARTS, a solo exhibition by Jackson Hunt.

Dear Community, 

This exhibition showcases 15 research posters selected by a jury of UCSB librarians at the UCSB Office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities’ 2024 Poster Colloquium. Outstanding undergraduate research from the humanities and fine arts, social sciences, and science, technology, engineering, and mathematics divisions is included. 

The displayed posters demonstrate the breadth and depth of undergraduate research at UCSB. Posters were selected for demonstrating excellence in clarity, visual representation, presentation, and intellectual significance.

Inspired by the breathtaking landscape and diverse marine life that surrounds our campus, Sea Change aims to bridge the gap between marine awareness and conservation engagement among the UCSB community. From the rocky reefs of the Santa Barbara coastline to the tranquil kelp forests of Santa Cruz Island, this exhibition offers a glimpse into the vibrant biodiversity and the fragile balance of our underwater backyard. 

Join us for "Headlands" - a gallery show put on by our very own CCS Art colloquium course students! Reception happening Wednesday, December 4th from 5-7 PM.

ANOTHER FREE SHOW THIS SATURDAY🔥🔥🔥
Opeyemi (‘Opey’) Olagbaju is a Nigerian American stand-up comedian and writer. He has written for CLOSE ENOUGH at HBO Max and was previously a Story Editor on BETTY for HBO. Prior to that, he was a writer on Kenya Barris’ UNRELATED for Freeform, Phoebe Robinson’s Doing the most, I LOVE YOU AMERICA WITH SARAH SILVERMAN for Hulu and THE NEW NEGROES for Comedy Central. He has also successfully showcased his stand-up on Comedy Central, JFL’s 2019 New Faces, and SF Sketchfest.

The new Science Communication Club at UC Santa Barbara aims to make science more digestible, accessible, and exciting across various fields and demographics. Workshops are held biweekly and our next one is, on Wednesday, November 20th, at 6:00PM with Tessa Cafritz in Bren 1414. Tessa Cafritz is a naturalist and Volunteer Program Manager of the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History’s Sea Center. This interactive education workshop will teach attendees how to share scientific topics in informal/interpretive education!

 Calling ALL CCS Majors!  

Established in 1954, the Faculty Research Lecturer is the highest honor the UC Santa Barbara faculty can bestow on one of its members. Each year the Academic Senate recognizes one individual for their outstanding academic and creative achievements and invites them to present their work to the campus community. These lectures, which were disrupted during Covid, commemorate the accomplishments and professionalism of our distinguished colleagues.

Lectures: 4 pm - 6 pm | Light refreshments to follow

The Department of Theater and Dance Presents:

A Place for Us

Santa Barbara Dance Theater – 2024 Fall Season

November 15^th - 17^th, 2024

CCS Writing & Literature Faculty Wendy Jackson Eley is hosting a special screening of her powerful documentary short, Facing the Falls, which is officially under consideration with the Motion Picture Academy:

This exhibition showcases 15 research posters selected by a jury of UCSB librarians at the UCSB Office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities’ 2024 Poster Colloquium. Outstanding undergraduate research from the humanities and fine arts, social sciences, and science, technology, engineering, and mathematics divisions is included. 

The displayed posters demonstrate the breadth and depth of undergraduate research at UCSB. Posters were selected for demonstrating excellence in clarity, visual representation, presentation, and intellectual significance.

The Center for Black Studies Research (CBSR) invites you to join for the inaugural screening of our documentary series on African American life in the United States.

The College of Creative Studies (CCS) invites you to join us for the eighth annual Research & Creative Activities Conference (RACA-CON) on Saturday, November 2, 2024, at 1:00 PM, taking place in the Interactive Learning Pavilion (ILP) during UCSB Parents & Family Weekend.

AI tools have the potential to revolutionize teaching and learning by increasing efficiency and fostering more equitable and inclusive classrooms. However, they also pose challenges, particularly when it comes to maintaining academic integrity. In this workshop, we will explore both the exciting possibilities and the problematic aspects of AI in education, offering strategies to harness its benefits while addressing ethical concerns. 

Register here.

From the College of Creative Studies Community Council (CCSCC):

Join us at the MultiCultural Center as we kick off the 2023-2024 academic school year. Come meet our team, learn about our upcoming events and programs, meet many student organizations affiliated with the MCC, and have a discussion about community. Bring a friend or two, and enjoy a fun night in our center with small bites and entertainment! Free and open to the public. 

“If we had the ability to assess who is the most beloved figure in music – not in overall numbers, but sheer adoration, per capita and per peer – it likely wouldn’t be Taylor or Beyoncé but Mavis Staples, who has been taking us there since the late ’60s.” Variety

“The colossally talented pair continue their commando, no-limits journey to the top of the music world.” Associated Press on The War and Treaty

Hey everyone!

Join us TODAY, September 27th, from 5:30 to 6:30 PM in CCS Room 136 for an epic evening! We’ve got music, delicious snacks, and a ton of fun icebreakers lined up—plus all your favorite board games! 

This is a perfect chance to connect with your peers and discover exciting future workshops and leadership opportunities, especially for those interested in becoming officers or major representatives!

Dear CCS Students, Faculty and Staff, please mark your calendars for the 2024 College of Creative Studies (CCS) All College meeting! Join us for a day of community building, welcome activities (including our infamous rock-paper-scissors tournament), and lunch!

Please join us in conversations with first generation graduate students as they share their experiences into their field of study and their journey as a First-Generation Graduate Student. Topics of discussion will include navigating imposter syndrome, self-care strategies, and how to survive and thrive in academic spaces.

The event will consist of a graduate student panel and a networking mixer between first-generation undergraduate and graduate students. The event will feature graduate students from a wide range of STEM, social science, education, and humanities fields.

Audra Metzler and Stevie Andrade, HR representatives with Angi (formerly Angi's List) will present the first workshop in our Prep with a Pro series and will share perspectives on what makes an impressive professional resume and cover letter. Students will learn the process of writing these key documents, including targeting, style, and format. Audra and Stevie are experienced HR professionals who love supporting Gauchos, so don't miss this valuable virtual presentation!

As part of the 2024 UCSB Summer Carillon Recital Series, Wesley Arai (UCSB University Carillonist) will present a recital from the carillon in UCSB’s Storke Tower on Sunday, August 11th at 2:00 pm. Selections will include original works for carillon and arrangements of well-known classical and popular tunes.

Listeners are encouraged to bring a blanket or lawn chair to sit on the grass outside the tower during the recital.

CCS Music Composition Faculty Emeritus Earl Louis Stewart announces the premiere performance of his Symphony #4: Juneteenth Symphony (Identity 34:1).  It will premiere as part of the Prelude to Juneteenth Day Celebration at UC Los Angeles’ Royce Hall, presented by the Department of African American Studies.

Please join us for a reception and awards ceremony honoring the recipients of the 2024 Library Award for Undergraduate Research. Prizes of $750 for first place and $500 for second place will be awarded in each of three categories: Sciences & Engineering, Humanities & Fine Arts, and Social Sciences.

The 2024 Library Award for Undergraduate Research is generously supported by a gift from Dr. Jenny Cook-Gumperz, faculty emerita.

This event will be photographed or recorded.

Please join us for a musical event featuring the premiere of two projects by Donavan Walker '25 (CCS Music Composition). 

We are thrilled to invite you to the AI Community of Practice Spring Symposium from May 20-24.

Suite for Drowning is a collection of musical works directly inspired by near death aquatic experiences on the California Coast. This suite of live electroacoustic pieces explores the vastness of the ocean, natural forces, biological fear responses, out of body experience, and after-life. This iteration of the work is for Lucian Parisi’s senior composition recital, combining electronic material from past albums, compositions specific to this project, and live chamber improvisation.