Solvang Cinema Arts (SCA; solvangcinemaarts.org), a fiscally sponsored project under the Santa Barbara Foundation, recently hosted a sold-out, open-air screening of “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial” at Buellton’s River View Park.

Soon to be its own nonprofit, Solvang Cinema Arts is working to bring a permanent, community-owned film center back to the Santa Ynez Valley.

Drawing families from across the Santa Ynez Valley the screening of “E.T.”served as early proof for the engaged audience SCA is building ahead of the opening of a permanent home, event organizers said.

“Santa Ynez Valley neighbors blanketed the park’s grass, shared burgers, popcorn and snacks and enjoyed a full evening in nature’s best theater,” SCA said.

The screening was produced in partnership with the City of Buellton, Visit the Santa Ynez Valley destination marketing organization, and SYV Community Outreach.

“Moments like this are exactly why we do this, and they only happened when you showed up, brought your families, and made the evening what it was,” Solvang Cinema Arts said in a recap of the evening.

“The Santa Ynez Valley has been without a local movie theater since the Parks Plaza Theater closed in 2020, leaving more than 20,000 residents without a local theater, and a 35-mile drive each direction just for a night at the movies,” SCA said.

“Solvang Cinema Arts was founded to close that gap, by working toward building the kind of nonprofit, community-owned cinema that has become the country’s proven model for sustaining movie experiences in small markets, from Healdsburg’s True West Film Center to Tuscon’s The Loft Cinema,” organizers said.

SCA’s founders said they see their mission as a model of the broader, national trend: As for-profit theaters are disappearing from small markets, communities around the country are answering with member-supported, mission-driven cinemas built as civic infrastructure.

Following the pop-up’s success, Solvang Cinema Arts announced that Esther Jacobsen Bates and Ryland Aldrich have joined its Board of directors, alongside founding directors Brooke Christian, Elizabeth “Liz” Orona, Geoff Yarema and youth advisor Ryland Schaffer.

Bates is a lifelong Santa Ynez Valley resident and nonprofit leader who spent 20 years as executive director of the Elverhøj Museum of History & Art.

She currently serves as executive director of the Santa Ynez Valley Foundation, chair of the City of Solvang’s Design Review Committee, and board member of the national Museum of Danish America.

She co-authored “The Spirit of Solvang,” the definitive history of the valley’s Danish-American community.

In recognition of her contributions to the region’s cultural life, Bates was named the 2026 Leadership in the Arts Award recipient by the Santa Barbara County Arts Commission.

Aldrich is a film producer and entrepreneur, is the founder of FYCit, a platform connecting awards voters and entertainment professionals to screenings and awards-season content, and a co-founder of Accolade Publicity & Consulting, an entertainment awards and publicity firm.

His producing credits include the Sundance-premiering “It Happened in L.A.” and the Tribeca selection “Folk Hero & Funny Guy.” He spent more than a decade covering the international festival circuit as festivals editor for Screen Anarchy. Aldrich lives in Solvang.

“Esther and Ryland bring exactly the additive deep Valley roots and real film-industry expertise this effort needs,” said Brooke Christian, co-founder and  board director of Solvang Cinema Arts.

“Esther has spent two decades proving what community-built cultural institutions can do here, and Ryland has spent his career inside the industry we’re inviting home,” she said. “Together with Geoff and Liz, we are defining a founding board built to carry this from pop-ups to a permanent home for film in this valley.” 

Solvang Cinema Arts will continue a pop-up screening series through the fall while pursuing a permanent, multi-screen home in the Santa Ynez Valley.

As part of this, SCA is partnering with the city of Solvang to kick off the destination’s month-long, seasonal event, Spirits of Solvang: Harvest, Haunts and Happenings, by co-presenting the Friday, Oct. 2, Solvang Spooktacular Cinema in the Park, an al fresco showing of Tim Burton’s “The Nightmare Before Christmas.”