Santa Paula’s Civic Art Collection

In 1937, local banker and artist Douglas Shively convinced the Santa Paula Chamber of Commerce to sponsor an art competition which became the annual Santa Paula Art Show. Offering "purchase prizes," the show attracted regionally and nationally recognized artists. For decades, the Chamber of Commerce purchased the winning artworks from each year’s show and presented them to the city, or they were acquired by local families and presented as memorials to various city institutions. Today, the Santa Paula civic art collection consists of nearly 300 paintings. It includes works by noted, early 20th century artists like Jessie Arms Botke and Cornelis Botke, Robert Clunie, Al Dempster, Ralph Holmes, Emil Kosa, Jr., Paul Lauritz, Douglas Shively, and Milford Zornes. The collection reflects both Southern California's distinctive art history and Santa Paula's unique local history.

While ownership of the collection is retained by the City of Santa Paula, the Santa Paula Unified School District, and the Blanchard Community Library, the Santa Paula Art Museum is responsible for the art's preservation, interpretation, and public exhibition.

Santa Paula's significance as a place for art has also been confirmed by the many esteemed artists who have made the city their home. Their stories can be accessed by clicking on the adjacent images.

Early Santa Paula Art Show

Artists Cornelis Botke, Douglas Shively, and R.P. Smith prepare for the first Santa Paula Art Show in 1937.

Purchase prizes were awarded to the winning artworks in various categories. The winners were selected by both professional judges and the general public.

The show grew quickly and was held in various locations around Santa Paula. The contest continues to this day, making it the oldest such juried event in the state.

Having purchased the show's winning artworks for many years, the Chamber of Commerce amassed a world-class collection which now belongs to the community.