Our Man in San Antonio, Part 1

Raul Alamo — My first night in San Antonio I got the touristy stuff out of the way. Here I am remembering the Alamo.

Hey everyone. It’s Raul, your YBG Festival Administrative & Social Media Assistant. I recently returned from an amazing trip to San Antonio on behalf of YBG Festival as a participant in the National Association of Latino Arts & Cultures (NALAC) Leadership Institute. In this two-part blog I thought I’d share some photos and tell you about the awesome arts scene in San Antonio, a little bit about NALAC and the Leadership Institute, and some information in the event you or anyone you know is interested in participating the leadership program.

NALAC is an arts service organization that focuses on advocacy for and development of Latino arts in the U.S. One of their programs is the Leadership Institute, a one-week intensive program of classes, lectures, and workshops designed specifically for arts administrators and artists. The activities are meant to develop skills in areas such as strategic planning, budgeting, arts management, marketing, and the one I was looking forward to – grant writing. Yes, I’m a nerd like that.

The Leadership Institute brings together artists and arts administrators (often people are both!) from around the country to participate. This year for the first time there was a participant from Puerto Rico! As amazing as the classes and the faculty are, the greatest value of the Institute is meeting your fellow students. Amongst my class of 25 were representatives from the National Museum of Mexican Art in Chicago, New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, and Center Stage in Baltimore to name a few.

Westside SA Mural — There are murals all over San Antonio. This one is from the West Side, close to where we took our classes.

Maribel y Rosalba — Two of the NLI Faculty. Professor Maribel Alvarez from the University of Arizona, and Rosalba Rolón, Artistic Director and Co-Founder of Pregones Theater in The Bronx.

NALAC group photo — The NALAC Leadership Institute Class of 2014 in front of NALAC Headquarters in San Antonio’s West Side.

Even during class there is always time for art. “Stay Brown” by Catharine Rodriguez & Emmanuel Ortiz, mixed media.

This painting was by one of the interns at Esperanza Peace & Justice Center. She had never exhibited her art in a public space before.

NALAC gave us a taste of the San Antonio arts scene! Our first visit was to Esperanza Peace & Justice Center, a community organization founded in 1987. Their building holds a performance space on the second floor and an exhibition space on the ground floor. They present musicians at various other venues around San Antonio. They had an art exhibit going on that day entitled “FRACKASO!”, featuring art documenting the fracking process that gas companies are practicing in Eagle Ford, Texas.

I’ll post a Part II about two more San Antonio art and music spots to visit if you’re ever in the area, and I’ll have more information for those interested in applying.