Slingshot / Alpha Art Studio is a nonprofit progressive art studio that supports the creative practice and professional interests of artists with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in Santa Barbara County. 

After decades of operating Alpha Art Studio as a component of its adult day services, Alpha Resource Center established Slingshot in 2013 to create a dedicated art center in downtown Santa Barbara. Inspired by the progressive art model pioneered by Florence and Elias Katz in the 1970s, the studio maintains a person-centered approach that emphasizes creative process over formal technique—affirming that art is an accessible means for all to communicate and contribute.

Currently, the studio supports around 40 artists, ranging in age from their mid-twenties to early seventies. In recent years, Slingshot artists have participated in a wide range of exhibitions, collaborative projects, and commissions; from public art installations to solo and group shows on a local, regional, and national level. 

The studio provides artists with access to materials, facilitation, and essential accommodations; fostering an environment where individuals of all experience levels can develop a sustained and meaningful art practice.

Through an emphasis on representation and professional development, Slingshot promotes the recognition, visibility, and inclusion of artists with IDD within our local communities and the broader field of contemporary art. 

Furthering Alpha's 70-year commitment to empower individuals with IDD, support families, and build a community where there is room for everyone to thrive.