The historic Santa Barbara Junior High School Theatre provides a fertile learning ground in the arts for countless young people. Actors, dancers, musicians, directors, producers, designers, technicians, managers and agents have launched careers which were conceived within the walls of the grand proscenium stage theatre on the campus of this diverse school.

The rich legacy of performing arts education at Santa Barbara Junior High School and the unique potential and assets of the theatre facility make it a perfect home for a performing arts center dedicated to all the youth of Santa Barbara.

In March of 1999, Santa Barbara Junior High School held a memorable alumni gathering which honored Marjorie Luke and the performing arts faculty of the 1960’s and 1970’s. The event drew over 500 people and raised $80,000. The Santa Barbara Community Youth Performing Arts Center (CYPAC) was formed to administer the funds raised to renovate the theatre and initiate the development of a youth performing arts center.

Since the summer of 1999, the Board of Directors has moved forward with the development of a relationship with the Santa Barbara High School District to create a long-term partnership to allow for the theatre facility to be operated by CYPAC as a joint-use venue. The theatre will be used by Santa Barbara Junior High School and by community arts organizations. Assisted by diverse community adult and youth Advisors, this 501 c 3 non-profit corporation has worked closely to research and plan the complete renovation of this historic theatre. Funds from private donors, foundations, businesses, the State of California and Measure V Bond funds have been joined to meet the $3.7 million budget to renovate and operate the Marjorie Luke Theatre.

The architecture of Santa Barbara Junior High is ranked with that of the Mission and the Santa Barbara Court House. It is a classic example of Spanish Colonial Revival architecture with its impressive, ornate tower, arches, extensive tile work, wrought iron and stone work, and fascinating details of gargoyles and busts of Italian explorers. The school and its showplace theatre were built in 1931 during the Great Depression by WPA workers – talented artisans and craftsmen who were out of work. The Theatre boasts a proscenium stage complete with working fly loft, an ornate plaster relief of cherubs and florets over the stage, a wood vaulted ceiling, and wrought iron chandeliers.

The mission of the Santa Barbara Community Youth Performing Arts Center is to establish and maintain an exceptional educational performing arts facility in partnership with the Santa Barbara High School District for future generations.

The goals of CYPAC are:

1. Renovate the Theatre at Santa Barbara Junior High School
2. Create a long-term framework for operation and standards for the theatre
3. Serve our local youth incorporating their diversity and talent
4. Provide a high quality, affordable, accessible performing arts venue

CYPAC exists solely to renovate the SBJH Theatre as a community performing arts center with an emphasis on youth-related performing arts activities. CYPAC is not a producing or programming organization. Many youth oriented performing arts organizations exist in Santa Barbara and are completely unrelated to this renovation project, however these organizations are eager to make this center their home.

The Santa Barbara Community Youth Performing Arts Center shares a strong and mutually supportive relationship with the Santa Barbara City School District, which owns and maintains the theatre building. A formal long-term agreement between these organizations enables Santa Barbara Junior High School to use the theatre for school functions and allows CYPAC to manage and operate the theatre on a year-round basis as a rental facility for community organizations.

The unique agreement between CYPAC and the Santa Barbara School District for joint use of the Santa Barbara Junior High School Theatre sets a standard for future joint-use of school facilities for this and other communities. It is a win-win scenario for both parties and for the community at large. It is a model of how an architecturally splendid and valuable public school facility, fallen on hard-times because of a lack of public funds, can be renovated to its original glory - and beyond - with the support of a community-based non-profit corporation.

A funding partnership has merged private, foundation, State and corporate funds raised by CYPAC, with the public funds from the Measure V School Bond passed in 1999. This powerful alliance is completed with generous volunteer support from community members who serve on the Board of Directors, in addition to expert individuals and businesses who are graciously donating goods and services.

The Santa Barbara Community Youth Performing Arts Center project focuses on the physical, emotional and educational well-being of young people. There are numerous studies that prove that experience in the arts provides young people with increased self-esteem and improved academic, problem solving and communication skills. The benefits of arts experiences have life-long impact on young people, regardless of the career paths they choose. Our goal is to insure a better future for our community by providing an environment for our youth to grow and learn through the performing arts.

There are many non-profit, youth focused performing arts organizations in Santa Barbara that struggle to find affordable and kid-friendly space in which to hold classes, workshops, rehearsals, recitals, concerts and performances. Nearly 20 local organizations – many serving youth, wish to utilize the Santa Barbara Community Youth Performing Arts Center. The venues currently available for rent in Santa Barbara are often booked a year in advance and not affordable by youth organizations. Some local venues are unionized, which makes the cost of stage crews prohibitive for youth and education-related uses and restricts young people from learning through hands-on experience in the operations of lights, sound, and rigging.

There is a strong need in our community for a quality, accessible arts venue that is designed with youth in mind. CYPAC will offer state-of-the-art, user-friendly technical elements and provide a staff which will support and teach young people stagecraft.

The Marjorie Luke Theatre will compliment existing performing venues and offer a new, affordable, kid-friendly, accessible venue. The Marjorie Luke Theatre will also positively impact the East Side corridor of Santa Barbara, creating a new arts destination on the East Side, just blocks from the Santa Barbara Bowl and Milpas businesses and restaurants.

The presence of the Center on the campus of Santa Barbara Junior High School creates an elevated sense of pride and dignity for the school’s student body, faculty and staff, and brings the community onto campus to celebrate arts and education. The Marjorie Luke Theatre will have a dynamic impact on the life of the school. It will be of great importance in the community and it will serve as a magnet for children and their families from throughout the greater Santa Barbara area.

In addition to having an overall policy of affordable rent, CYPAC is creating a Rent Subsidy Fund for youth performing arts organizations to insure that every group is able to use and afford this venue. Funds for this subsidy will come from local private donors and foundations.