The Lobero Foundation
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.
Located in the heart of the downtown historic district, the theatre itself is an intimate and beautiful setting, serving as the home stage for the major local performing arts organizations and dance schools, and acting as a meeting space for corporate, nonprofit, and social groups. 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.
Stage photos by David Bazemore. Theater photo courtesy Lobero Theatre Foundation.
