Art From Scrap

Specialties

Art From Scrap (AFS) is Santa Barbara’s Environmental Education and Art Center. AFS provides the community with a Green Schools environmental education program, an Arts Center, and a ReUse Retail Store.

Green Schools students learn the waste reduction methods of Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and Compost, pollution prevention actions to improve creek and ocean water quality, and contribute to a sustainable community through organic gardening and service learning projects.

Art From Scrap’s Reuse store keeps thousands of pounds of clean, reusable materials from ending up in the Santa Barbara County landfill each year. All kinds of treasures donated by local businesses and individuals are available as the perfect low-​cost option for theater & art projects.

Art From Scrap encourages kids and adults to rethink the way they view «discarded» materials and to seek creative solutions for their reuse through Art Workshops, Birthday Parties, and at exhibitions at the AFS Gallery.

History

Established in 1991.

Art From Scrap started in 1990 as a volunteer effort by a group of Santa Barbara parents concerned about the lack of funding for art programs in the schools. Community support, including the donation of warehouse space by the City of Santa Barbara and an umbrella agreement with the Santa Barbara County Education Office, helped AFS continue to develop throughout 1992. Over the years Art From Scrap expanded its activities to include a large environmental education component, an extensive community arts program, and a Reuse retail store that has partnered with hundreds of local businesses to keep tons of materials out of the landfill.