the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center en San Antonio

Deep in the heart of the west side of San Antonio rests an organization solely dedicated to the community, in fact it is “the largest community-based, multi-disciplinary organization in the United States.” In case you didn’t know, I am talking about the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center located at 1300 Guadalupe St.

If you haven’t made it out to an event hosted by the Guadalupe, you sure are missing out. This year The Guadalupe is hosting their 33^rd annual Cine Festival starting next month February 3^rd-6^th and their 29^th annual Tejano Conjunto Festival this May. These are just a couple of the community involved projects that the Guadalupe hosts though. This Friday if you swing by the Guadalupe Theater at 7:30 PM you can catch a play reading by Amalia Ortiz who “has appeared on three of Russell Simmons presents Def Poetry on HBO and the NAACP Image Awards on FOX.” And did I mention it’s free!? Sounds pretty sweet to me, what do you think?

Also, if you’re interested in exploring your cultural and artistic side the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center offers classes for both youth and adults in Dance, Literature, Media Arts, Theater Arts, Visual Arts, and Xicano Music. Like I said, this is just a few of the ways that Guadalupe gets involved with the community, if you’re interested in more information take a look at their website at www.guadalupeculturalarts.org. I hope to run into you at one of their events!

Allison

Say hello to a new staff member at theFund! Allison is a Public Relations student at UTSA. She is from Houston, Texas and is graduating from UTSA this December.


Allison Kantner
Marketing Intern, theFund

I was born and raised in Houston, Texas. My parents are both designers, so I grew up in a household that fully supported the arts. I am a senior at the University of Texas at San Antonio, studying Communications with a concentration in Public Relations and a minor in Business focusing on Marketing.

The last art museum I went to was the Menil Collection, in Houston. Since I was a little kid, my parents have taken me to this free privately owned collection. Their exhibits are always diverse; so that whatever your preference of art is within the year they will have an exhibit that you love. A few years ago, that was the exhibit on Max Ernst for me. It was at that moment I found my love for surrealism. Their permanent collection never disappoints me, even after the countless times I have viewed these pieces of art, a sense of amazement still overcomes me. In my life, it is one of the places I can go and leave with a feeling of tranquil inspiration.

If I could be supremely talented in one form of art it would be drawing. It is one the most simplistic forms of art which enables the artist to do it anywhere at any time. I envy those who can doodle a masterpiece on a piece of notebook paper.

I chose to work with theFund because I knew I would be involved in a line of work that I cared about. Art and cultural events have been a monumental part of my life since I was a child. I’m pretty sure my parents dragged me to exhibitions, festivals, and galleries since I was the age of four. Weekly folk dancing class? If there was Baskin Robbins afterwards, I was a happy kid! As time went on though, my parents didn’t need to entice me with gimmicks; I had found my own appreciation for culture. I want to help make that possible for the next generation.

As the world continues to blend together it is important to understand one’s own culture as well the ideas and values of other individuals. Art is something that doesn’t have the boundaries that other professions deal with. Art is an expression that can be appreciated and supported by many. It is a way to bring all walks of life together. The motivation for working for a non-profit organization is something that has been instilled in me as a worthwhile business, because I have seen the joy and intellection it brings myself and others. I truly believe I will be an advocate for the arts for the rest of my life.