S A N T A B A R B A R A H I G H S C H O O L
Visual Arts & Design Academy
A California Partnership Academy
Industry Sector: Arts, Media, and Entertainment
Pathway Description
VADA is an Art & Design focused “school-within-a-school” at SBHS. Created to support and develop emerging artists and all kinds of creative students, VADA offers a four year experience with a focus on Community, Creativity and College & Career. The goal is to make high school more engaging and fun for creative kids by wrapping their education around art & design while preparing them for college, career and life after high school.
VADA
Website Demo Lesson
Video
Skills Acquired
- Teaches and trains the skills, attitudes and mindsets of the artist-designer, practiced in a creative, working studio environment.
- Students graduate with a solid technical art and digital design foundation as well as with highly transferable soft skills in self-management, creativity, collaboration/teamwork, emotional intelligence and more.
- Students develop their innovation instincts using Design Thinking as a method for problem solving.
- Students are confident users of Adobe Creative Suite
Work Based Learning Activities
- Students have the opportunity to participate in internships and mentorships
- Field Trips to local businesses (Patagonia, Deckers, UGG)
- Field Trips to Norton Simon, FIDM, the Petersen, LACMA
- Partnership with Advisory Committee to design projects that develop skills employers need, and reflect what it’s like to work in creative business.
- Work with artists-in-residence
“VADA has given our son an opportunity for leadership, and participation in team projects and endeavors. A chance to compete, to achieve, to fail. The VADA leadership team has been a valuable opportunity for him to work with his peers and to hone his leadership skills. Most importantly for our student,
VADA has given him confidence in his identity as an artist.
VADA’s well-earned excellent reputation in the community of artists has given students access to multiple local and regional arts institutions and organizations. He has heartily embraced these relationships, relationships that began with an introduction by VADA.”
- Tami Sherman, VADA Alum Parent
“By having art as an essential component to their English, History, and Science classes, learning becomes more meaningful for VADA students. VADA supports its students with knowledgeable and accessible teachers and staff”
- Jenn Mislang, VADA Parent
“Without the VADA community, I wouldn’t have been able to develop my skills as an artist, student and friend as easily during high school.”
- Sofija Ninness, VADA 2020 graduate currently attending UCLA
“VADA's industry connections, guest speakers, college & career focused field trips, and student mentorships and internships have explicitly been developed to make sure our high school graduates are prepared for college, but more importantly, ready for a career. VADA has always sought to graduate their students ready for both college AND career - not just college readiness.”
- Spencer Barr, SBHS College & Career Counselor / Career Tech Ed. Site Coordinator
Student Leadership Group
Developing students who are leaders in their community and in their profession is important, and the VADA Student Leadership Council is one way we support this. We value student empowerment, and VADA Student Leadership acts as a “Mini VADA-ASB” to help us showcase, promote and even influence the program from a student point of view.
Visual Arts & Design Academy Courses
Overview of Courses Video Overview of Courses Course
Catalog
| Course Title and Description | Type of Course | UC a-g | Dual Enrollment |
|
Introduction to Graphic Design (SBCC GDP 111) |
Introductory |
f |
YES |
|
Freehand Drawing |
Introductory |
f |
|
|
Digital Imaging (SBCC MAT 131) |
Introductory |
f |
YES |
|
Advanced Freehand Drawing |
Introductory |
f |
|
|
Introduction to Photography (SBCC GDP 109) |
Concentrator |
f |
YES |
|
Advanced Painting |
Concentrator |
f |
|
|
AP & Honors Studio Art |
Capstone |
f |
Visual Arts & Design Academy Instructors
Daniel Barnett
In 2007 Daniel became VADA Program Director leading an amazing team of educators, but has always maintained the vital link to students, teaching Painting, AP Studio Art and VADA Student Leadership Council. He also plays a key role in guiding the Friends of VADA, whose current major initiative is supporting a new art facility. Daniel considers his greatest accomplishment to be the successful cultivation of a community in which radically diverse students welcome each other like family and thrive as growing artists and people.
Nicole McKee-Barr
Brandon Teris
