Phenomenal Santa Barbara

"Phenomenal Santa Barbara"

Last fall, we started working with the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History to produce their annual Mission Creek Gala. The event theme "Phenomenal Santa Barbara" highlighted the various ecosystems that make our county so incredibly unique. While the planning process of any large event can be overwhelming, producing an event in a community recently devastated by fires and floods that resulted in lives being lost was sobering. With the amazing development team from SBMNH and their gala committee, we created an event that celebrated the spirit of Santa Barbara County, and reminded everyone of how phenomenal our community truly is.

The museum is home to the only full-dome planetarium on the central coast. Their exhibits focus on the regional natural history of the area, including astronomy, birds, insects, geology, mammals, marine life, paleontology, plant life and the Chumash Indian culture. Inspired by exhibits in the newly remodeled Santa Barbara Gallery, the event celebrated the region's phenomenal biodiversity. Below are a few of our favorite pictures from the evening.

Coming this summer, the Museum will feature the 50 Greatest Photographs” from National Geographic starting on May 26th. 

Finishing Touches....
Our goal with an experiential event is to tell a story and inform our guests. In this case, the Mission Creek Gala highlighted four unique habitats in Santa Barbara: The Santa Barbara Channel, Coastal Wetlands, Oak Woodlands and California Wildflowers on Figueroa Mountain.  Using décor from the museum, including a model of a life-sized condor and shark, a bear from the museum collection and a touch tank including live sharks, we were able to create an aesthetic that intrigued guests to ask questions and learn more about the museum's collections.

Working with Hogue & Co. floral design and SMI Concepts for lighting and audio visual, we recreated a small space into a venue that allowed guests to move easily between habitats and piqued their curiosity about flora and fauna that define Santa Barbara County.