The S.B. Questionnaire: Frederick Janka

“Art is a powerful tool for change,” says the emphatic Frederick “Freddie” Janka, director of development at the Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara (MCA). He comes across as an introvert at first, but don’t be fooled: Freddie is an outspoken advocate for art. “Now more than ever,” explains Freddie with passion in reference to the presidential election, “now is the time that artists thrive. They’re at the forefront of social change. They’re the leaders.”

Freddie was born and raised in Santa Barbara, but was compelled to leave and experience the world and art beyond the American Riviera. “I couldn’t wait to get out of here,” he divulges. So he studied art at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and then became curator of an art gallery in Mexico City. “I wanted to work at a gallery where I could learn Spanish,” said Freddie, whose mother’s family is Mexican-American, though she wasn’t allowed to speak Spanish growing up.

Being in Mexico City helped Janka connect with his roots. “Latino culture is much broader than people assume,” he explains. “There’s not a lot of celebration of that. It touches on so many cultures. The term Hispanic is so limiting to understanding the Latino experience.”