News

Schmidt Sciences awards $750,000 to UCSB-led team to transform Black press archives with AI

English professor Jim Casey leads a national coalition to recover 19th-century African American newspapers using machine learning and public crowdsourcing.

Ninotchka D. Bennahum named Arnhold Chair in Dance Studies

Recognized for her scholarship on artistic radicalism, Bennahum’s appointment marks a key milestone in the establishment of the Arnhold Arts and Humanities Commons.

Humanities meets high-tech: ‘Contrapuntal’ AI platform launches at UCSB

UCSB Professor Laila Shereen Sakr launches Contrapuntal, a "human-centered" AI platform built on data feminism and ethical transparency to counter the 'black box' problem.

Electroacoustic excellence: Deniz Çağlarcan wins prestigious residency

Media Arts and Technology scholar creates work that bridges the gap between sound and visual art.

From scholars to thought leaders: Public Voices Fellowship cements record of public impact

A year of high-impact scholarship; 2026 applications now open.

HFA Faculty Explore Future of Media and AI

The Carsey-Wolf Center's new initiative launch brought industry titans and HFA scholars together, underscoring the division's key role in the global conversation on AI.

The Carsey-Wolf Center launched its new multi-year research initiative, "Media Industries and AI," with a timely and critical panel discussion. The event brought together media executives, scholars and analysts to explore how AI is reshaping film, television and gaming.

Two History of Art and Architecture doctoral students awarded prestigious Wyeth fellowships

Two scholars land coveted spots at the nation’s top art research institute.

Two doctoral candidates from UC Santa Barbara’s Department of History of Art and Architecture, Elizabeth Driscoll Smith and Sylvia Faichney, have been named Wyeth Fellows at the Center for Advanced Studies in the Visual Arts (CASVA). Housed at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., CASVA is the Gallery’s research institute and offers the most prestigious national-level fellowships in art and architectural history: limited to ten total pre-doctoral fellowships nationally.

Humanities and Fine Arts Community Gathers to ‘Reimagine What is Possible’

Faculty and staff convene at UC Sedgwick Reserve to reflect, reconnect and plan for the future of HFA.

In the inspiring and beautiful setting of the UC Sedgwick Reserve, faculty, staff and leadership from the Division of Humanities and Fine Arts (HFA) gathered on Monday for a critical half-day retreat. The event, “A Conversation at Sedgwick,” was designed as an opportunity to “strategize together in a time of crisis” and discuss “what we care about most at our public university.”