The Carver's Summer Youth Programs

Two upcoming summer youth camps happening at Carver Community Cultural Center.  Located just east of downtown San Antonio, (within walking distance of theFund office), the Carver Community Cultural Center, (the Carver), is an historical center of the community’s African-American culture. Named in honor of internationally esteemed agricultural chemist George Washington Carver, the Carver embodies his philosophy and spirit “Start where you are, with what you have. Make something of it.Never be satisfied.”

 The first summer youth program coming up is the Carver Summer Youth Theatre Camp co-led by The Renaissance Guild and it runs between June 13 and July 1, 2011. A 3-week summer theatre training program designed to engage middle and high school students in learning/strengthening critical theatre skills: acting, set design, and theatre tech. The camp’s finale will offer a performance on July 1, 2011 at 7:00 pm at the Jo Long Theatre.

Monday – Friday 8 am – 4 pm. Open to children ages 12 – 18(6^th – 12^th graders), free snacks provided daily, space limited to 25 slots.

Early Bird Registration is $100 (through May 31, 2011)

Regular Registration $125 (June 1- 3, 2011) Register online www.therenaissanceguild.org, or call the Carver: (210) 207-2719

The second is the Carver/Dallas Black Dance Theatre Summer Dance Intensive co-led by Dallas Black Dance Theatre (DBDT), and will operate between July 18 and July 29, 2011. Leading Master Instructors from the Dallas Black Dance Theatre will hone students’ dance skills to new levels by strengthening their techniques and artistic potential in ballet, modern, jazz and other genres. The program will culminate with a performance for families, friends, and the general public.  Open to ages 8 through 18 with a $75 enrollment fee. All dance levels are welcome, but some experience is preferred.  Registration is limited to 40 spaces. Call A.B. To Register call A. B. Dennis at (210) 207-2719 or email abdennis@sanantonio.gov, by July 15.

DBDT was founded by Ann Williams in 1976, the mission of which is to create and produce contemporary modern dance at its highest level of artistic excellence through performance and educational programs that bridge cultures and reach diverse communities.www.dbdt.com

The mission of the Carver Community Cultural Center is to celebrate the diverse cultures of our world, nation and community, with emphasis on its African and African-American heritage, by providing challenging artistic presentations, community outreach activities and educational programs.
The Carver Development Board is a 501 (c) (3) organization whose mission is to undertake fund-raising activities and to provide financial, programming and advisory support to the Carver Community Cultural Center. The Carver Development Board is a proud affiliate of theFund.

YOSA - Youth Orchestra of San Antonio

Youth Orchestras of San Antonio 


At the recent Southwest School of Art’s Fiesta Arts Fair, a visitor who noticed YOSA’s sign at our Fund booth approached and commented about how impressed he was with the performance that the YOSA students had recently put on at his workplace. (During workplace campaigns, theFund often invites representatives from our affiliates to come out and share what they do with employees in their workplace.)

If you have not yet seen a YOSA performance, you are in for a treat indeed. We recommend their upcoming City Series Spring Concert, May 22, 2011, at St. Philip's College, at 5 p.m. This is a free performance featuring both YOSA Symphony and YOSA Sinfonietta Strings.

Central to YOSA's mission, is education. Professional music educators and advanced students provide string instruction in schools and community centers. For those that need it and qualify, YOSA makes financial aid and loaned instruments available so that all students that have the desire, also have the opportunity. On the west side at Good Samaritan Community Services Center, their new Music Learning Center provides free music instruction in violin and cello. Summer String Camp.  provides intensive instruction in orchestral studies, string technique, music theory, composition and chamber music.


"The mission of Youth Orchestras of San Antonio, is to enhance education, enrich the community and transform lives by pursuing excellence in classical music in a stimulating, nurturing and fun environment that is equally accessible to all youth.”


450 students ranging in ages from 6 to 21 that come from 104 schools in 20 school districts represent the cultural diversity of south Texas. YOSA is very proud of their students and lets it show by supporting them in all their present, as well as future endeavors; one of the recent headlines on their website was about a YOSA students who had recently won a science fair competition. Thank you YOSA, for providing  positive reinforcement and public acknowledement of work well done to young people who have earned much deserved recognition.

In addition to musical training, YOSA also provides a variety of learning experiences for its proteges, such as an international tour every three years, and playing alongside San Antonio Symphony and over 20 public performances throughout the city. Not to mention it’s soon to begin again, annual two-week Summer String Camp.

YOSA is one of 27 qualified affiliates of theFund.

Shaping our Future One Voice at a Time

Ok, here’s a quick trivia question. What local non-profit organization was the first to offer day shows for San Antonio schools in 1989 and works hard every year to promote the importance of the arts in children’s lives? If you answered the Children’s Fine Art Series, pat yourself on the back, you're right.

If you haven’t heard about The Children’s Fine Art Series, here is some information that will grab your interest. The Children’s Fine Arts Series puts together one hour shows, especially made for the attention span of a child, with the use of “color, sound, and movement to delight the senses” of the children. Not an easy accomplishment, but they are driven by the idea that children need to be exposed to the arts at a young age in order to develop an appreciation for it, and they do so in a way that also exposes the children to current issues that exist in society. Performers are brought from around the world by this dedicated organization in order to give the children a great first experience.

This year the organization is celebrating its 28th year delivering excellent Children’s performances, and in-case you’re wondering where you can pick up a brochure you won’t find any out in the public, because the company is also doing their part in keeping San Antonio green. You can however, visit their website at http://childrensfineartseries.org/ and download a brochure with more details, you can also view show times and rate each show after attending them. Not only does this give children the opportunity to view performances but it also gives them a chance to express their opinions as well.

Children’s Fine Arts Series is one of 28 original qualified affiliates of theFund. Every Fund affiliate is a non-profit organization that has been selected based on specific criteria and is reviewed each year by to receive allocations of public donations, raised through theFund’s fundraising campaigns. theFund was established to provide a much needed new source of operating revenue to non-profit arts and cultural organizations in San Antonio.