Our History
In 1972, a small group of Children’s Creative Project (CCP) volunteer artists served 200 children at Franklin Elementary School in Santa Barbara. In 1975, Children’s Creative Project acquired non-profit status and became a Santa Barbara County Education Office program under then-Superintendent William J. Cirone.
Today, Children’s Creative Project has grown to serve schools throughout Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties through Resident Artist instruction and Touring Artist performances. Each year, CCP reaches tens of thousands of students in preschool through 12th grade, providing high-quality instruction and performance experiences in visual arts, music, dance, and theater.
What began as a small volunteer effort has expanded into a countywide program serving multiple districts and nearly 80 schools, while staying rooted in its mission to provide equitable access to high-quality arts education for all students.
CCP continues to work with professional teaching artists to deliver standards-based arts instruction and meaningful performance experiences, while community programs such as the I Madonnari Street Painting Festival help support arts education across the county.
Recognition
In 1999, Children’s Creative Project was among 91 nationwide model arts education programs recognized by First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton in a report, Gaining the Arts Advantage: Lessons from School Districts that Value Arts Education. The report was a study by the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities and Arts Education Partnership. It is the first national study to examine the success strategies of school districts in building and sustaining strong district-wide arts education programs.
In 1999, Children’s Creative Project received The Creative Ticket Schools of Excellence Award from the California Alliance for Arts Education, a member of the Kennedy Center Alliance for Arts Education Network.
The Children’s Creative Project and founding Executive Director Kathy Koury received the 2015 Leadership in the Arts Award from the Santa Barbara County Arts Commission.
In 2025, Children’s Creative Project received the Hope Award from the Santa Barbara Education Foundation in recognition of its advocacy for and support of arts education in local schools, and its role in fostering creativity and cultural enrichment for students.
Celebrating 50 Years!
Celebrating 50 Years!
Celebrating 50 Years
Since 1975, Children’s Creative Project has grown from a small group of volunteer artists serving 200 children into one of the region’s most impactful arts education programs. Today, CCP reaches tens of thousands of students each year, sparking curiosity and cultivating creativity through music, dance, theater, and visual arts.
In 2025, we proudly celebrated our 50th Anniversary, honoring the artists, educators, students, and community partners who have shaped CCP’s journey. To mark this milestone, we hosted a community event, Piece Time: CCP’s 50th Anniversary Celebration, on October 11, 2025, at Santa Barbara City College’s Great Meadow.
Together, we celebrate the power of the arts to inspire connection, joy, and peace.
40 Years of I Madonnari Street Painting Festival
The 40th Annual I Madonnari Street Painting Festival took place in 2026 over Memorial Day weekend (May 23–25, 2026) at Old Mission Santa Barbara, continuing one of Santa Barbara’s most iconic arts traditions.
For four decades, the festival has transformed the Mission plaza into a vast outdoor gallery of chalk art created by more than 140 artists, drawing 40,000 visitors each year.
Established in 1987 as a fundraiser for the Children’s Creative Project (CCP), I Madonnari remains CCP’s primary annual fundraising event, directly supporting arts education programs for students across Santa Barbara County.
Now in its 40th year, the festival continues to celebrate creativity, community, and the enduring impact of arts education—bringing together local and international artists while helping fund year-round arts instruction in public schools.