Founder / Director

Arts for Humanity! is run by a talented group of staff, artists-in-residence, and volunteers under the direction of Karsen Lee Gould, MA, CDT

Karsen founded AH! in 1997 and heads the development and programming of this unique arts outreach organization. Miss Gould is a talented artist, educator, and Creative Arts Therapist. She’s been working in the human potential movement for more than twenty years. Her career began as a performing artist after completing formal training at the Goodman School of Drama in Chicago and the Theatre School at California Institute of the Arts in Valencia. She soon gravitated toward teaching theatre and movement to children, to capture a certain “innocence and purity” of expression. This led her to pursue an underlying interest as a director and arts facilitator. That interest deepened and expanded over the years to include a wide variety of populations, using an integration of the arts to create expressive theatre, dance and visual art for personal growth.

The populations touched by Miss Gould’s work include: psychiatric, developmentally disabled, people in recovery, children, high-risk teens, the elderly and Alzheimer’s. Over the last 6 years, Miss Gould has been creating original theatre with a group of performers known as the Blue Moon Players, who combine talents from diverse populations. They have performed at such Santa Barbara venues as: Center Stage Theater, UCSB Multicultural Center, Las Positas Friendship Park Stage, San Marcos High School and Crane School Theater. This is inspired, innovative, and visually splendid work. It is known to break barriers and dispel myths about challenged people. Feedback from audience members who have attended Miss Gould’s theatrical productions speak to this in the following:

“Hats off to Karsen Gould who did such a tremendous job directing the players in what turned out to be an evening of surpassed expectations. To motivate and orchestrate her actors into such an unfolding of magic and enthusiasm is most commendable.”
- Commodore Dixon, Educator

Arts for Humanity! was founded in 1997, by Karsen Lee Gould MA, CDT. Ms Gould has a master’s degree in clinical psychology and creative arts therapies from Antioch University, Santa Barbara. For over 25 years, she has been active in bringing the stimulating and healing power of the arts to the underserved segments of the community.

In May of 1997 Karsen had just produced her first professional mixed ability theatre/dance performance entitled “Dreams Do Come True”, at UCSB’s Multi Cultural Center. The response to this work was so profound that Ms. Gould felt its far reaching value was so important, that it was clear that “the show must go on”. In addition it had become clear that most social service agencies no longer had the budget to be able to provide expressive arts opportunities to their members. Karsen saw the necessity to keep the arts alive for members of our community who are often marginalized. While many organizations offer important services addressing the fundamental needs of these individuals, few address their need for self expression.

Ms. Gould, who has been working as a creative arts educator, therapist and consultant for many years knew first hand the vital and transformative power of the arts. So, Arts for Humanity! was officially formed and the efforts towards alliances and fundraising began. We have received funding from Santa Barbara County Arts Commission, Tri-Counties Regional Center, The Santa Barbara Foundation, The Wood-Claeyssens Foundation, the El Adobe Fund, The Towbes Foundation, The Burnett Foundation, the Karuna Foundation, and AH!’s wonderful individual benefactors. We have established beneficial partnerships with organizations such as Tri-Counties Regional Center, County Mental Health, Summer Solstice, County Action Commission, Alpha Resource Center, Work-Training Program Inc., The Transition Program, Isla Vista Teen Center, and Garden Court.