What is SBCAST?

Academic Focus

​The University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) fosters a rich interdisciplinary environment that bridges the fields of Media Arts and Technology (MAT), Psychology, Neuroscience, and the broader Santa Barbara community through initiatives like the Santa Barbara Center for Art, Science, and Technology (SBCAST).​

Media Arts and Technology (MAT) at UCSB

MAT is a transdisciplinary graduate program that integrates emergent media, computer science, engineering, electronic music, and digital art research. The program encourages students to transcend traditional disciplinary boundaries, promoting collaborative projects that explore the intersections of art, science, and technology. ​

UCSB Psychology and Neuroscience

Within the Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, research spans various domains, including cognitive neuroscience, which examines the neural mechanisms underlying cognition and behavior. This research often intersects with technology and media studies, particularly in understanding how digital environments influence mental processes.​

Interconnections and Collaborations

The relationship between UCSB’s MAT program, UCSB Psychology and Neuroscience, and SBCAST is characterized by collaborative projects and shared research interests. For instance, researchers within the MAT program often collaborate with scientists and artists from both UCSB’s neuroscience departments and SBCAST. These collaborations explore themes like perception, cognition, and sensory augmentation through immersive media installations, sound design, and interactive technology. The work reflects a growing trend in academia to integrate empirical research with creative practice, blurring the lines between art and science.

In summary, UCSB’s MAT program, Psychology and Neuroscience departments, and SBCAST collectively contribute to a dynamic ecosystem that fosters interdisciplinary research and creative endeavors, bridging the gaps between art, science, and technology.

Community Focus

The Santa Barbara Center for Art, Science and Technology (SBCAST) supports Artist/Scientist/Technologist collaborations to encourage new fusion models of interaction for design, development and research. SBCAST encourages educational and public outreach components to further public understanding of Art, Science and Technology through a new window provided by their juxtaposition in a creative environment.

SBCAST is a live/work creative design and development community located in downtown Santa Barbara. The community consists of full-time, accomplished, working “multi-disciplinary” residents who focus on the juxtaposition of art, science and technology. The intent of SBCAST is to provide a shared creative environment to promote thought and action.

SBCAST is a vibrant “arts incubator” and is focused on developing meaningful relationships with complimentary organizations, both in Santa Barbara and around the world. The defining concepts associated with SBCAST can be seen bracketed by organizations as diverse as:

The Principle Operational Elements of SBCAST

  1. Artist/scientist living and working studios
  2. Provision for domestic and international guest residencies
  3. Shared workspace, tools and material storage
  4. Green transportation focus (downtown setting, live/work environment, bicycles provided for residents)
  5. Efficiency and economy in operations (solar power, comprehensive recycling, efficient design/construction and space utilization)

Up to eighteen multi-disciplinary residents may be living at SBCAST. Residents may be in short term (typically 1-3 months), or longer term (18 months) residencies. A key aspect of SBCAST is shared working environment. Participants often work collaboratively on projects. Communal workspace and studios are provided for residents and are outfitted with commonly-used equipment, tools and materials. Provisions for SBCAST Working Studios are oriented to cleaner and quieter endeavors towards the front of the site (closer to Garden Street), and directed to messier and louder work efforts, in the separate Workshop, at the back of the site.

In the City of Santa Barbara, along Garden Street and between Haley and Ortega Streets, the nucleus of an “Arts Corridor” is evolving. The Community Arts Workshop (CAW), Explore Ecology’s Art from Scrap and SBCAST establishes a concentration of arts-related activity. The closeness of these establishments will create new opportunities for collaboration, facility use, availability of art supplies and associated tools.

Automobiles are typically not required, or encouraged, for residents at SBCAST, as it’s located in downtown Santa Barbara. Even so, sufficient parking is provided for residents, in accordance to city planning requirements. For quick and easy transportation, on-site bicycles are available to assist with transportation needs. A small grocery store and the Saturday morning Santa Barbara Farmer’s Market are about one block away. Materials, tools and supplies providers, as well as non-profit creative arts organizations, such as Explore Ecology’s Art from Scrap, Community Arts Workshop (CAW), Home Improvement Center, Buena Tool, Smart and Final, Office Max and Hayward Lumber are all within easy walking distance. There are numerous restaurants and coffee shops within a few blocks and lower State Street is just three blocks away.  An MTD cross-town electric shuttle sheltered stop is just ½ block away, on the corner of Cota and Garden streets. A trip to UCSB consists of taking the cross-town electric shuttle (one every 23 minutes) to the MTD Transit Center, then boarding the UCSB Express (one every 30 minutes). There is a Ralphs Supermarket across the street from the MTD Transit Center, so groceries are readily available.

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