Unite To Light The Night

Three-evenings of art and entertainment to fight inequity, one light at a time.

We are breaking the mold for fundraising events with our inaugural event, Unite to Light the Night, October 6-8.  The event merges art, culture, and social impact into immersive experiences over the course of three evenings. The basis of the fundraiser is an art exhibition around the theme of light. People of all ages and socioeconomic backgrounds will have the ability to participate in at least one of the evenings.

Unite to Light manufactures and distributes solar lamps and solar chargers to people living without electricity. Megan Birney, CEO of Unite to Light said that, “Including local artists stemmed from the wish to celebrate the power of light. An art exhibition is the perfect way to showcase light as not only an essential aspect of life, but also a creative medium that can bring people together”. The exhibition will feature 33 local artists, ranging from art students, to globally recognized professionals. Over 40 works of art will be on display, including projection art, light mapping, sculptures, paintings, and photography. Rob Skinner, CEO of The Towbes Group and Presenting Sponsor of the event said, “At The Towbes Group, we often speak of community; about nurturing it; sustaining it and protecting it. The community that we endeavor to build and support is one that strives to create spaces and opportunities in which all can thrive. The Towbes Group is honored to be supporting Unite to Light’s mission to do just that.” 

Santa Barbara is a town that loves its festivals and community gatherings, and fundraising events happen most weekends. “It was important to create an event that stands out, that’s truly inclusive, and one that offers a lot of value for the cost of participation for guests and sponsors”, added Kate Kubiak, Creative Director at event agency Vesper Post, tasked with producing this event. The unique aspect of this fundraiser is that it will run for three-consecutive days giving the organization, its supporters, and artists the opportunity to connect with a broader community. 
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All three nights will be held at the Community Arts Workshop at 631 Garden Street and run from 6 - 10pm. Although in person events are becoming the norm, the organization remains cognisant of everyone's well being. Most of the artwork will be exhibited inside The CAW’s gallery spaces, while all social components will be hosted in the spacious courtyard. Each evening is set to have a unique atmosphere, artistic program and entertainment.

For the first night, Unite to Light is rolling out the red carpet for guests attending the Glow Gala, offering dinner and a show. The Glow Gala will unveil the exhibition and guests will be able to explore and interact with the art. A welcome reception with select artists will kick off the evening, followed by catered dinner and a musical performance. But don’t expect your typical black tie affair: guests are encouraged to add glitter and glow to their attire and will be treated to a live show by local band Isla View.

The Bright Bash on the second evening will be a multisensory dance party. Two house music DJs (SkyPounce and DJ MacIntyre) will be turning up the beats. Tickets include an open bar, light food by Nimitas Cuisine, flow art performances, and a glow-in-the-dark accessory station. Unite to Light has partnered with AutoCamp on this event. Founder, Neil Dipaola, said "AutoCamp is on a mission to connect people to each other and the outdoors. It is also committed to conservation efforts, environmental education that help protect these beautiful places. We're proud to support Unite to Light's innovative solutions to meet the global need for electricity and climate initiatives”.

The third and final event is the Community Showcase, an evening open to the public. In addition to offering free admission, the organizers teamed with Art From Scrap and Children’s Creative Project to lead a light-based art workshop for all ages. Food by Nimita’s Cuisine and drinks will be available for purchase onsite. Rene Grubb, Broker/Owner of Village Properties, the evening’s sponsor, said, “Village Properties is thrilled to partner with Unite to Light and bring the Community Showcase to the public and support ongoing efforts to uplift developing communities across the world through access to clean light and electricity.” ​

Thanks to the support of local foundations and businesses, ten artists received grants to bring their artwork to life. Many of the art pieces will be for sale with a portion of the proceeds going to Unite to Light. Information and tickets can be found here or by clicking the button below. 
Unite to Light would like to thank supporters noted above, as well as The Fund for Santa Barbara, SBCC Foundation, The Santa Barbara Foundation, Oniracom, the Community Environmental Council, WorldViz, Intuizi, Topa Topa, Flying Embers, Figueroa Mountain, Bartlett Pringle & Wolf, American Riviera Bank, Larry Barels, Marci Cohen, and Jason Janzen, CPA, for making this event possible, as well as Adrienne De Guevara, Sarah Dildine, and The Environment Makers for bringing the exhibition to light.

Learn More About Unite to Light the Night