Santa Barbara wins $100,000 Bloomberg asphalt‑art grant to transform State & Carrillo intersection

City staff and the County Office of Arts & Culture told the council the city received a $100,000 Bloomberg Asphalt Art grant to install painted intersections, decorative crosswalks, sidewalk extensions and community programming at State Street and Carrillo Street.

George Rubin, the city planner presenting the item, said the award is the largest single grant in the program cycle and that the pilot will be installed beginning Monday, April 6, with the main elements in place by May 1. “El premio se aumentó a 100,000 pes, la subvención más grande en la historia del programa,” Rubin said.

Artist Edy Jiménez designed patterns inspired by Zapotec weaving traditions; program partners plan bilingual public education and safety elements including textured epoxy paint intended for heavy traffic, painted curb extensions to shorten pedestrian crossing distances, wrapped planter and bollard artwork, and a program of student light installations and community events. Staff cited prior evaluations showing asphalt‑art treatments can slow drivers and reduce conflicts with pedestrians and cyclists.

Installation will require temporary lane reconfiguration on weekdays while artists work; the pilot is limited to 24 months per Bloomberg terms after which the city and partners will assess whether to retain, alter or remove elements.

What’s next: staff will continue outreach with market vendors and downtown partners and coordinate a staged installation with Public Works to minimize traffic disruption.