Online Scavenger Hunt

theFund will be sponsoring an Online Scavenger Hunt beginning the first of March and ending on March 31^st, to coincide with San Antonio’s Contemprorary Art Month.

What’s an Online Scavenger Hunt?

On theFund website there will be a page dedicated to the Scavenger Hunt where you will find a list of questions. The questions are directly related to our affiliates, with boxes for you to enter your answer. The logos below each question direct you to the website, where you can find the answer. Once you have found all the answers, you can submit them and you will be entered into a drawing to win valuable prizes donated by our affiliates. Let’s get to the part that everyone really wants to know about: PRIZES!

The first 100 participants will receive a Fund shirt – the early bird gets the worm!

All participants will be entered into the raffle to win the following prizes:

- Two 2-day Passes to Fiesta Arts Fair

- Two Tickets to the Off Center Performance

- Two Tickets to YOSA'S Russian Fairy Tales concert

- Family Four Pack of Tickets to Any Show at the Magik Theater

- A Free One- Year Family Membership to the Children's Museum (Did every parent's eyes just bug out?!?)

- A Bottle of Borgo SanLeo Sangiovese Toscana 2007 – Dry Red Wine

- Family Four Pack of Tickets to The Witte Museum

All of those sound great, don’t they? Be sure to take part in this unique opportunity to find out more about what San Antonio has to offer culturally and artistically and win a really fantastic prize!

Click on the link below to begin your Scavenger Hunt journey:

http://www.thefundsa.org/scavenger-hunt-2011/

Education With a Spark of Magik

Magik Theatre, for over 17 years, has been successful in enchanting the youth of San Antonio with their imaginative performances, while at the same time educating through creative actions. The Magik Theatre can make a teacher’s dream come true; literature brought to life with theatrics that captures the attention of students. They offer six different intellectually inspiring programs created to benefit children of all ages.

The Magik Theatre makes it easy for teachers to incorporate the theater’s productions into the classroom, before and after the students attend a performance, with Magik’s comprehensive study guides include fun and developmental activities for the children. The Magik Theatre also assists schools in need of transportation to the theater with their “Magik Theatre on the Road” program. “Camp Showbiz” is a worthwhile way for kids to spend a portion of their summers. This program is a two week day camp teaching the campers everything they need to know to put on a show of their own. What a great way to trigger a child’s creativity!

Everyone knows that when kids reach middle school and high school Shakespeare is a force to be reckoned with in the classroom. Magik’s “Shakespeare Speaks” program brings performance workshops to the students, in an attempt to make Shakespeare’s works more enjoyable and understandable to the modern day student, in hopes to further their interest in Shakespearian literature. If a student already craves more Shakespearian entertainment, chances are they will want to attend “Shakespeare in the Park”, a free event for the whole family to enjoy in the surroundings of some of San Antonio’s most beautiful outdoor locations.

For more information on the mentioned programs, along with other worthwhile programs the Magik Theatre has to offer, check out their website for production dates and enrollment forms at magiktheatre.org.

Magik Theatre is one of the 27 affiliate organizations supported by theFund.

In the wonderful words of the San Antonio Symphony, "It's a wonderful world in which to share", and isn't it so true. In tough times like these we don't really have the extra cash to lend out large amounts of money to charity and organizations as much as we would like to but in reality just one dollar can make a huge difference. Below is a list of ways you can help out the community by donating to organizations that are definitely in need of it, without emptying your pockets.

Sing It Louie!! It's a wonderful world in which to share! February and March 2011 Community Collaboration partners include the American Heart Association, the Autism Community Network and the San Antonio Food Bank. Donations will be collected at the American Heart Association offices and Simply Sinatra with Steve Lippia Pops concerts held February 25 & 26, 2011. For a $20 donation, participants will receive a voucher for two tickets to a Symphony performance of their choice, with proceeds benefiting the American Heart Association's mission of building healthier lives, free of cardiovascular disease and stroke. The San Antonio Symphony is also hosting a toy drive to benefit the Autism Community Network at the Side by Side at the Movies concert, February 27, 2011, marking a new partnership in the Symphony's Community Collaboration program. Autism Community Network requests toys suitable for children ages 2-5. Cash donations will be accepted. Donating patrons will receive a voucher for two free tickets to future Symphony performances. Non-perishable food items and cash donations will be accepted at all March concerts to benefit the San Antonio Food Bank. The Food Bank can turn your $1 donation into 7 meals, 10 pounds of food or $13 worth of grocery products! This marks the third consecutive year the Symphony and Food Bank have partnered to help those in need. 130 E. Travis St., Suite 550 San Antonio, Texas 78205 Phone: 210.554.1010 Fax: 210.554.1034

If you wanna put a face to the woman who is a multitasking queen here at theFund, meet Kathy the office manager. She has a deep dedication to support the arts, and a passion to support the mission fot theFund.

Kathy LeMaster

Office Manager, theFund

Having grown up in Chicago, I had the benefit of experiencing a multitude of art and cultural opportunities throughout the city. I am very grateful, that when I was in school, music and art classes were a mandatory part of the curriculum, and field trips to all the cities museums were a much anticipated annual event.

Enjoying the arts have always been an important part of my family's life, so I have encouraged my own children and grandchildren to appreciate the arts and culture by visiting museums, plays, ballet, musical and cultural events and reading to them.

When my family first moved to San Antonio, my granddaughter quickly became involved in theatre, singing and dancing in musicals at the Josephine Theatre. She also sang in her high school choir at Clark and Johnson HIgh Schools. The impact that involvement with art and music, has had on her cognitive, communication skills and self confidence, further impressed upon me how important the support of arts and culture in our community is, expecially with the reduction of arts and music curriculum in public schools.

I completely embrace and support the mission and vision of theFund. What a wonderful opportunity it is to be able to be an integral part in the growth of art and culture in San Antonio.

As Office Manager of theFund and the “other half” of the staff, I tend to the day to day administration of the office. My job is to make sure your contributions are accounted for and acknowledged promptly. I also, manage our social media, and volunteer recruitment. If you ever have any questions, I am here to help.

Viviana Vega - New Addition to theFund

Say hello to another new staff member at theFund! Viviana is a Fine Arts student at Our Lady of the Lake University and is from San Antonio.

Viviana Vega - Marketing Intern, theFund

I am a born and raised San Antonian and I am currently a student at Our Lady of the Lake University. I have been influenced by art and culture from a very young age through music, film, and visual arts.

The last arts and culture event I attended was last Sunday January 16^th. I went to a local music show at a venue called the Ten Eleven. I have been involved with the underground local music scene here in San Antonio for many years, both supporting and performing.

If I could be supremely talented in one art I would have to pick visual arts, specifically photography or design. I am currently a college art student trying to engage in as many forms of visual arts as I can (painting, printmaking, drawing, animation, graphics, ceramics, etc.)

The rising number of schools who have eliminated art programs from their criteria is what drives me to work for the arts in San Antonio. I want both children and adults to be able to experience the impact that the arts truly have on our society. The arts define culture and who we are, it is important to support it within our own community.

Art can bring communities together in many ways. People come together to embrace the arts and to be a part of something beautiful within the community. For example, this past summer I worked with a group of young teens in a program called Art In Action, the students spent the entire summer collaborating, designing, and painting a mural under a bridge on 19^th St. When the mural was complete, there was a ceremony and blessing that welcomed the community. Many people within the community and surrounding areas showed up to support the teens and to admire the work that beautified the area.

The Museo Alameda: A Must See Exhibit

I don’t think I would be alone in a head count of how many of us in San Antonio enjoy eating at Mi Tierra. El Mercado is surrounded with beautiful colors, unique art and motifs, music and of course the food y pan dulce. Have any of you been inside that big pink building though? By that big pink building I mean la Museo Alameda. Many of us have been captivated by the beautiful lights and metal work that surround the building when driving by at night but have not gotten the chance to see what’s actually inside. If you fall under this category you definitely need to check it out.

Did you know that la Museo Alameda is “the nation’s largest Latino museum and first formal Smithsonian affiliate”? Pretty amazing huh? Today I stepped inside the museum for the first time and was absolutely amazed with the current exhibit going on. The exhibit is labeled Revolution & Renaissance: Mexico & San Antonio 1910-2010, it contains objects from weaponry and traditional “China Poblana” clothing to original documents and pieces from Diego Rivera. This is only a portion of the many amazing pieces that are currently there including original black and white Mexican films that can be viewed in the mini theater replica of the original Alameda Theater.

Whether you’re a San Antonio native like me, you’re new in town, or just visiting this is one exhibit you honestly don’t want to miss. Considering how unmotivated this cold weather can make us you have until September 15^th to catch the exhibit, so no worries. So next time you grab some grub at Mi Tierra be sure to ask for your free Museo Alameda pass in case your waiter doesn’t mention it. If you’re not in the mood for Mexican food then the Alameda has free admission every Tuesday with a free guided tour beginning at 4:15. The museum is open from Tuesday-Sunday from noon to 6 p.m.

For More Info:

The Museo Alameda

101 South Santa Rosa St.

San Antonio, TX 78207

(210) 299-4300

www.thealameda.org

http://www.facebook.com/#!/MuseoAlameda