San Anto Cultural Arts

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    • Programs
    • About San Anto >
      • Staff & Board of Directors
      • San Anto Supporters
    • Donate
  • El Placazo Online
    • Creative Writings
    • Dia de los Muertos 2020
  • Community Mural Program
    • Interactive Mural Map
    • Artist Interviews
    • Digital Artwork
    • Art Film Series
    • Mural Preservation Initiative
  • Home
    • Programs
    • About San Anto >
      • Staff & Board of Directors
      • San Anto Supporters
    • Donate
  • El Placazo Online
    • Creative Writings
    • Dia de los Muertos 2020
  • Community Mural Program
    • Interactive Mural Map
    • Artist Interviews
    • Digital Artwork
    • Art Film Series
    • Mural Preservation Initiative

Our  Roots

About  San  Anto  Cultural  Arts

Mission: To foster human and community development through community-based arts.
Vision: To build a community where people have the opportunity to realize their creative abilities, interpret their culture and heritage through their own unique vision, and to cultivate and showcase the talent of residents living in San Antonio's West side. 
​
​San Anto Cultural Arts currently operates two year-round, signature programs: 
​
El Placazo Community Newspaper and Mentor Program
- Community Mural/ Public Art Program

San Anto Cultural Arts organizes various events, including a Dia de los Muertos Barrio procession, mural tours, youth programming, and the Huevos Rancheros Fundraising Gala. 

History

San Anto Cultural Arts was originally established in 1993 by community youth and arts advocates Manuel Castillo, Cruz Ortiz, and Juan Miguel Ramos as a project of Inner City Development. San Anto Cultural Arts became an independent nonprofit in 1997. The target demographic of San Anto Cultural Arts is inner city youth ages 9-19,  but its mission impacts the entire community as San Anto is an incubator for local artists. In San Anto's 23-year history, 55 murals have been created and over 210 issues of El Placazo have been published.

Through mural painting, thousands of young people learn skills in design, drawing, and painting. Participants work alongside professional artists and learn problem-solving, the importance of creativity, and build self-confidence as they hone their skills and abilities. The murals produced by our program are public-art works, and many have become iconic symbols of the neighborhoods they represent.  

Through our El Placazo Newspaper Program, community youth learn writing, photography, and journalism skills that contribute to their academic achievement, critical thinking skills, and personal success as responsible future stewards of our community.

In 2017, San Anto Cultural Arts served  over 300  youth, completed painted two new murals & published 6 issues of El Placazo. Currently, we have a 6 people on staff and 200+ volunteers; we commission 5-15 artists each year. Our long-term goals are to build stronger partnerships with the school systems and local government to create systemic change in our community.
Picture
"Educacion" Mural Unveiling 1993 

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210.226.7466           2120 El Paso St.   78207   San Antonio, TX

M-F  11am-6pm      info@sananto.org