Walter H. Capps Center

10/06/2026

🚨 Only 9 days until this event! 🚨 It's free and open to the public; all are welcome!

Join us Thursday, October 15 for kL Mays and Alice Sparkly Kat on “Divining with the Elements”. In this conversation, kL Mays and Alice Sparkly Kat (Alice Sparkly Kat Astrology) share what they have learned about the ethical practice of reading the elements and about collective divination’s power to make history.

This event is co-presented with a grant from the John Templeton Foundation (John Templeton Foundation) as part of a nine-lecture series on contemporary metaphysical spirituality. Additional support provided by the UCSB Multicultural Center (UCSB MultiCultural Center).

🕐: Oct. 15, 5:00 PM
📍: Multicultural Center Theater
💲: Free

For more information, visit our website as www.cappscenter.ucsb.edu

UCSB Humanities and Fine Arts UCSB Religious Studies UCSB Resource Center for Sexual & Gender Diversity

10/06/2026

🚨 Happening in a week! 🚨 This event is free and open to the public; all are welcome!

Join us this October 13 for a talk by Representative Jared Huffman ( Congressman Jared Huffman ) about his book No Prophets: The Fight to Save Democracy from Christian Nationalism. The event will take place at Henley Hall 1010 at 7:00 p.m. and is free and open to the public.

This book talk will be moderated by Joseph Blankholm, Associate Professor of Religious Studies, UCSB. Copies of the book will be available for purchase by Chaucer's Books ( Chaucer's Bookstore ), with an author signing following the book talk.

For more information, visit our website at www.cappscenter.ucsb.edu

UCSB Religious Studies UCSB Humanities and Fine Arts Department of Political Science, University of California - Santa Barbara

10/02/2026

Join us Thursday, October 15 for kL Mays and Alice Sparkly Kat on “Divining with the Elements”. In this conversation, kL Mays and Alice Sparkly Kat (Alice Sparkly Kat Astrology) share what they have learned about the ethical practice of reading the elements and about collective divination’s power to make history.

This event is co-presented with a grant from the John Templeton Foundation (John Templeton Foundation) as part of a nine-lecture series on contemporary metaphysical spirituality. Additional support provided by the UCSB Multicultural Center (UCSB MultiCultural Center).

🕐: Oct. 15, 5:00 PM
📍: Multicultural Center Theater
💲: Free

For more information, visit our website as www.cappscenter.ucsb.edu

UCSB Humanities and Fine Arts UCSB Religious Studies UCSB Resource Center for Sexual & Gender Diversity

09/30/2026

Join us on November 17 for a talk by James Miller, a professor at Duke Kunshan University, about lessons from Daoist philosophy, such as what's wrong with the idea of "saving the planet" and the concept of Somatic Ecology.

This event is co-sponsored by the Departments of Religious Studies ( UCSB Religious Studies ) and East Asian Languages & Cultural Studies ( UCSB East Asian Languages & Cultural Studies ), the East Asia Center, and the Environmental Studies Program ( UCSB Environmental Studies Program ).

🕐: November 17, 5:00 p.m.
📍: Henley Hall 1010
💲: Free

UCSB Humanities and Fine Arts UCSB Environmental Justice Alliance Community Environmental Council (CEC)

09/30/2026

Join us for an online film screening about the life and legacy of Walter H. Capps and the Capps Center. There will be a post-screening conversation with Lois Capps, Laura Capps, Greg Johnson, Dusty Hoesly, Julie Ross, and other contributors to the film.

For more information, visit our website at www.cappscenter.ucsb.edu, or click the link in our bio.

🕐: October 21, 6:00 PM
📍: ZOOM Webinar (link in bio, under “events”)
💲: Free

UCSB Religious Studies UCSB Humanities and Fine Arts

09/25/2026

Join us this October 13 for a talk by Representative Jared Huffman ( Congressman Jared Huffman ) about his book No Prophets: The Fight to Save Democracy from Christian Nationalism. The event will take place at Henley Hall 1010 at 7:00 p.m. and is free and open to the public.

This book talk will be moderated by Joseph Blankholm, Associate Professor of Religious Studies, UCSB. Copies of the book will be available for purchase by Chaucer's Books ( Chaucer's Bookstore ), with an author signing following the book talk.

For more information, visit our website at www.cappscenter.ucsb.edu

UCSB Religious Studies UCSB Humanities and Fine Arts Department of Political Science, University of California - Santa Barbara

06/11/2026

Throwback to some shots of our Spring 2026 events at the Capps Center. We wish everyone a wonderful summer break! See you again in the fall 🎉

05/15/2026

The Public Domain Players Presents...

Rossum’s Universal Robots (R.U.R.)
Directed by Olivia Bievenue

From the directors:
The factory managers are delighted to welcome you to Rossum’s Universal Robots (R.U.R.) for an extended tour of our robotics factory and island facilities! As the foremost manufacturers of robotic technology, we are at the cutting edge of advanced labor technologies solutions. We hope this visit will help you understand the service we are providing the world, and will dispel any worrisome notions you may have about robotic revolt! As our general manager, Harriet Domin, says, “The Robots work for us!”

Join the Public Domain Players for our production of Karel Čapek’s satirical/dark comedy Rossum’s Universal Robots. Evening shows are Saturday, May 30th and Sunday, May 31st at 7:30pm. One matinee show is available Sunday, May 31st. All three shows will be in Girvetz 1004.

Free entry for this event is made possible with generous co-sponsorships from the Early Modern Center, UCSB Electrical and Computer Engineering, UCSB Department of English, the Graduate Student Association, the Literature and Mind Center, and the Walter H. Capps Center.

🕐: 3 Shows, Sat May 30 and Sun May 31
📍: Girvetz 1004
💲: Free

See our website for event details. Link in bio.

05/04/2026

Join us and our friends at the Multicultural Center Tuesday, May 12 for Nicolas G. Rosenthal on “Painting Native America: Indigenous Artists in the Twentieth Century.” The talk follows generations of Indigenous artists who sought to make a place for Native art in both North American culture and society and the broader art world, as they negotiated such questions as how to use art for social and political goals, what constitutes “Indian art,” and how to make a living as artists.

🕐: May 12, 3:30pm
📍: Multicultural Center (MCC) Theater
💲: Free

See our website for event details. Link in bio.

04/24/2026

Join us Thursday, May 28 (on Zoom) for Susannah Crockford on “Global Spirituality in Digital Media and Popular Culture.” The talk will consider the varied online and offline routes that link people and places around the world through shared spiritual networks through the examples of starseed influencer April Elizabeth and Gaia, the subscription streaming platform for spiritual content. The Zoom Webinar link is available in our bio under “events.”

This event is co-presented with a grant from the John Templeton Foundation () as part of a nine-lecture series on contemporary metaphysical spirituality.

🕐: May 28, 1PM
📍: ZOOM Webinar (link in bio, under “events”)
💲: Free

See our website for event details. Link in bio.