Clubhouse intended as a safe place for those with cognitive or physical disabilities

CLUBHOUS e

Continued from Page A1 art and music.

As expressed by her mother, Debbie Fisher, at the event, Grace’s vision for her life has always been to “have a foundation for kids with different disabilities.”

Grace Fisher was approached by Make-AWish in Santa Barbara to start a foundation to help other children with cognitive and physical disabilities experience the joys of art and music. Hence, the Inclusive Arts Clubhouse was born and fulfilled Grace’s dream.

The goal of the clubhouse is to foster a safe space where people who have cognitive or physical disabilities may express themselves in a studio accessible to them. The clubhouse will have classes and events dedicated to performing arts, music, painting and more. The space is also available to those who may want to rent the clubhouse for parties or events of their own.

Additionally, Jennifer Zacharias, one of the public relations managers of the event, explained that another one of the goals of the Grace Fisher Foundation alongside the Gwendolyn Strong Foundation — another local nonprofit — is to build an accessible playground in Santa Barbara.

In honor of the beginning of the arts clubhouse — an acclaimed new addition to Santa Barbara — people from all over the community helped put on the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber of Commerce helped with the production of this event as well as the creation of the studio.

Michele Schneider, the chamber’s director of business development, led the opening remarks of the event, saying that she is “honored to be a part in the creation of the studio.” Ms. Schneider is good friends with Debbie and Grace Fisher, having walked alongside Grace throughout her journey of acute flaccid myelitis.

The event itself was a success, with close to 100 people in attendance to watch the ribbon cutting and visit the clubhouse.

The clubhouse was full of bright and beautiful colors, paintings, and displays for all the patrons to enjoy. For the guests, there were stations around the clubhouse for various crafts, where you could design something of your own.

The main interactive art exhibit featured a big sheet of paper covered by a plastic sheet on top with paint in the middle. Guests were allowed to walk over it to make a unique and abstract piece of art — one way to showcase the studio’s accessible art.