Lobero Foundation - Lobero Theatre

The mission of the Lobero Theatre Foundation is to maintain and operate the historic Lobero Theatre as a performing arts center and cultural asset to the community of Santa Barbara, and to present the highest quality productions in music, dance, and theatre.

The Lobero is the home stage for the major local performing arts organizations and dance schools, and acts as a meeting space for corporate, nonprofit, and social groups.

Located in the heart of the downtown historic district, the theatre itself is an intimate and beautiful setting, where each of its 680 seats is considered a good seat.

From youth to adults, from jazz lovers to ballet enthusiasts, the Lobero’s wide variety of programming attracts audiences from every cultural background and all walks of life.

More than 70,000 people attend performances at the Lobero annually, coming from the Tri-County, and throughout California, the U.S. and the world.

In 1938, the Lobero Theatre Foundation was established specifically to raise funds to maintain and upgrade the physical aspects of the Lobero and to bring community-enhancing events to its stage. Though the theatre was still owned by the city of Santa Barbara, the Foundation's Board of Directors acted as stewards of the building, even raising a record $3.5 million to complete a state-mandated seismic renovation in the early 1990s.

In 1996, the County of Santa Barbara deeded the theatre to the Lobero Theatre Foundation, and today, the Lobero Theatre Foundation continues to raise funds for the benefit of the theatre, and has expanded its mission to support the following activities and audiences:

Youth and Community Programs – The Lobero sponsors many programs for Santa Barbara County students. During the 2006-07 Season along, the Foundation brought nearly 10,000 students to performances at the Lobero free of charge.

“Lobero Live” – The Foundation is committed to bringing the best artists and the finest entertainment to the Lobero stage, be it via the Lobero Jazz series, or one of the 15 to 20 other shows the Foundation presents annually.

Performing Arts Initiative – Each year, the Foundation provided $50,000 in production subsidies to the local performing arts organizations who perform on the Lobero stage, including State Street Ballet, Opera Santa Barbara, Flamenco Arts Festival, Music Academy of the West and many more.

Lobero Endowment – The Foundation is actively working to build a $5 million endowment fund to ensure that the Lobero Theatre remains vibrant and accessible for the community of Santa Barbara.

Although the Lobero Theatre Foundation serves as owner and steward of this landmark institution, it is really you, the Lobero donor and ticket buyer, who serve as the true “foundation” of this great organization. The community built the theatre to be its stage and its cultural heart, and the Lobero Theatre Foundation is dedicated to honoring that tradition.