Luminaria is a dynamic nonprofit arts organization dedicated to producing and promoting the arts of San Antonio, Texas, by managing the iconic Luminaria Contemporary Arts Festival, the Luminaria Artist Foundation grants program, and culturally driven creative PlaceMaking.

Luminaria began as a city-led nonprofit initiative in 2008 by then Mayor Phil Hardberger and the Department of Arts and Culture to highlight the arts in a nighttime festival. Drawing inspiration from Paris’s Nuit Blanche and Madrid’s Noche en Blanco, they invited all the arts organizations and artists of San Antonio to create a communal celebration.

For the next several years, community advocates and arts professionals served on volunteer committees to showcase the arts in various formats and locations, most notably downtown in front of the Alamo, along Houston Street, and into unused city parks. The night festival drew thousands into downtown and inspired all with the multimedia works, creative performances, and fanciful lighting.

As downtown areas became developed and as city funding reduced, the Luminaria Board of Directors created a strategic plan in 2013. This plan called for far-reaching changes, including international appeal and marketing, multiple days, and a moving footprint. The 2013 festival included many artists from South America and spurred the organization’s entry into site-specific murals.

The Luminaria Contemporary Arts Festival was subsequently produced in the Museum Reach of the San Antonio River Walk and on the historic East Side before once again settling downtown at Hemisfair. Luminaria’s featured artists at the festivals displayed a mix of original art in diverse medias, presenting to tens of thousands annually.

Luminaria would strengthen and grow their commitment to artists with grants to local artists. In 2020 and 2021 Luminaria awarded $99,000 to 13 artists for new works under the Luminaria Artist Foundation grant program. Due to the COVID-19 health pandemic, the annual arts festival was cancelled, yet Luminaria responded to artists’ needs by creating the Corona Arts Relief grant program. CAR awarded over $62,000 to artists and has been rebranded as the Working Artist Fund to award up to $550 for professional development activities. As of Spring 2023, WAF has awarded $28,416 to Bexar County artists for professional development activities with a grand total of $189,416 grant dollars awarded to local artists since 2020.

In 2021, Luminaria conducted another strategic plan resulting in a desire from artists and the community to have more Luminaria events in more places around the city and to primarily support local artists as we enter a post-pandemic reality. Over 250 artists participated in 2022 Luminaria Contemporary Festival featuring fine art, film, poetry, sculptures, digital art, and live music. Artists from the San Antonio area comprised the majority of Featured Artists and were accompanied by artists from Pennsylvania, New York, North Carolina, Florida, Virginia, Germany, Mexico City, Monterrey, Mexico, S Korea, Canada, and England ranging in age from 16-72. The festival is representative of our city’s minority-majority demographic (65% Latinx, 7% Black); stimulates tourism; and drives economic development. In 2022, Luminaria issued $144,176 in grants and contracts to working artists.

 

Awards:

2022 Best of Return of a Festival, San Antonio Magazine
2021 Best Arts Advocate, San Antonio Magazine
2019 Best Non-Fiesta Festival, San Antonio Current
2016 Centropolitan Best Downtown Event, Centro San Antonio

Members of the media are invited to contact: admin@luminariasa.org

Recent Press

San Antonio artists granted $54,000 for Luminaria installations and performances, KSAT.com, April 20, 2021

Best of the City 2021: Personalities, San Antonio Magazine, February, 2021

San Antonio’s Luminaria awarded $35,000 grant by National Endowment of the Arts, San Antonio Current, February 10, 2021

Painting the town: Murals animate San Antonio streets, from the St. Mary’s strip to the South Side, San Antonio Report, December 24, 2020

Luminaria Has a New Director, Arts Alive San Antonio, December 10

Luminaria names San Antonio native Yadhira Lozano its new director, San Antonio Report, December 10

San Antonio’s Luminaria Names New Executive Director, Texas Public Radio, December 9

Luminaria names Yadhira Lozano as new executive director, San Antonio Current, December 9

New Exhibits At Blue Star, Diwali Festival… NEWS ROUDUP, Nov. 5, 2020, Arts Alive San Antonio, November 5, 2020

Luminaria makes art accessible during ‘dog days of COVID’ with free fall series, San Antonio Report, October 22, 2020

San Antonio’s Luminaria Artist Foundation to showcase six artists in fall series, San Antonio Current, October 7, 2020

San Antonio Art Teacher Painting Tricentennial Mural for Mission San José, Spectrum News, September 12

Luminaria Announces Artists Selected to Complete New San Antonio Murals, San Antonio Current, June 26, 2020

Luminaria Leader Armstrong Stepping Down at End of Month, San Antonio Report, June 10, 2020

Kathy Armstrong Stepping Down as Executive Director of San Antonio Arts Organization Luminaria , San Antonio Current, June 10, 2020

Kathy Armstrong, director of San Antonio arts festival Luminaria, stepping down, San Antonio Express News, June 10, 2020

Luminaria, TPR and Others Host Livestream Telethon to Benefit San Antonio Artists This Weekend, San Antonio Current, May 8, 2020

San Antonio’s Luminaria Artist Foundation Announces 2020 Grant Recipients, San Antonio Current, May 4, 2020

Luminaria Contemporary Arts Festival Cancelled, The Paisano, April 18, 2020

San Antonio arts festival Luminaria has been cancelled because of COVID-10 pandemic, Express News, April 17, 2020

Canceling 2020 Festival the “Smart Thing to to Do”, Rivard Report, April 17, 2020

Corona Arts Relief program overwhelmed with applications, will pause program after April 3, KSAT, April 1, 2020

New Program to Help Bexar County Artists in the age of Coronavirus, Texas Public Radio, March 27, 2020

Relief fund for San Antonio artists impacted by COVID-19 cancellations set up by the city and Luminaria Artist Foundation,
San Antonio Express News, March 25, 2020

Scaled-back Luminaria announces 2020 date, San Antonio Express News, March 9, 2020

Luminaria Kicks Off $10,000 Grant Open Call for San Antonio Area Artists, Glasstire, January 23, 2020

Luminaria takes over Artist Foundation’s grant’s program for Bexar County artists, San Antonio Express News, January 15, 2020

2019 Best Non-Fiesta Festival, San Antonio Current, 2019

Artist Foundation Dissolves, Grants shift to Luminaria, Rivard Report, December 5, 2019

Luminaria Lights Up Hemisfair for Third Year, San Antonio Express News, November 10, 2019

Luminaria Illuminates Hemisfair with Local, Global Talent, Rivard Report, November 9, 2019

Artful Weekend Ahead for San Antonio, Texas Public Radio, November 8, 2019

Luminaria 2019 art festival in San Antonio will feature piñatas, percussion and fire, San Antonio Express News, November 7, 2019

Luminaria returns to Hemisfair this Saturday with Meditation Temple, Giant Twister Game and More, San Antonio Current, November 6, 2019

Luminaira set to light up the city, Fox KABB, November 6, 2019

No te pierdas Luminaria!, Univision TV, November 6, 2019

Luminaria: A Weekend of Light, Art, & Community in the Alamo City, Texas Lifestyle Magazine, November 4, 2019

Luminaria Contemporary Arts Festival celebrates creative artists, Focus on South Texas, KABB Fox TV, October 27, 2019

Luminaria Announces 2019 Featured Artists, and a Chance for All to Participate, Rivard Report, October 16, 2019

LGBTQ+, Cultural Intersectionality, Immigration Named Themes for Luminaria, Spectrum News, October 2, 2019

Luminaria announces details of 12th annual arts festival, My San Antonio, October 2, 2019

An Artist’s Guide to San Antonio’s Cultural Boom, Amtrak The National, October 2019

10 Events You Don’t Want to Miss This Fall, Southwest The Magazine, Sep 6, 2019

Many Opportunites for SA Artists, Rivard Report, February 28, 2019

Calling all Artists, San Antonio Current, February 4, 2019

Luminaria is Looking for Artists for 2019 Festival, San Antonio Express News, February 4, 2019

Sonic Illuminations …, San Antonio Current, November 8, 2018

Dazzling Performances…, San Antonio Current, November 7, 2018

Luminaria Arts Festival, Don’t Miss It!, KSAT, November 9, 2018

Luminaria is Back in Town, KENS, Nobember 10, 2018

Critic Picks 5 Must-see Works, San Antonio Express News, November 1, 2018

Luminaria hosting Contemporary Arts Festival, KENS 5, October 20, 2018

Luminaria Returns to San Antonio, Glasstire, October 19, 2018

50 Artists to Seek Out at This Year’s Luminaria …, San Antonio Current, October 17, 2018

Art for the Crowd: Luminaria Layers History in San Antonio, Arts & Culture, October 2018

Luminaria Adds a Market and Open Stage / Ooen Gallery, San Antonio Express News, October 11, 2018

Luminaria expands to Daylight Hours, Mission San Jose for Tricentennial Year, Rivard Report, October 11, 2018

Everything You Need to Know About This Years Luminaria Contemporary Art Festival, San Antonio Current, October 11, 2018

Spanish Muralist Creating a Portrait of San Antonio, San Antonio Express-News, June 14, 2018

Artist Daniel Muñoz Begins Work on Mural Commemorating San Antonio’s Tricentennial, San Antonio Current, June 14, 2018

San Antonio Composer Turns Opera into Silent Rave With Immersive Work, San Antonio Express-News, April 18, 2018

Luminaria Builds Foundation for Tricentennial Year, La Prensa, April 6, 2018

Luminaria Announces Three More Years in Hemisfair, San Antonio Current, April 3, 2018

Luminaria Announces Date and Location for 2018, Express-News, April 3, 2018

Calling All Artists, Luminaria set to Celebrate San Antonio’s Tricentennial, KSAT TV, April 3, 2018

A Night of Light and Warmth Amid Novembers Chill, Rivard Report, November 11, 2017

Luminaria will Fill Hemisfair with Sights and (Loud) Sounds, San Antonio Express-News, November 10, 2017

Luminaria Art Festival: Artist Frank Valdez, KENS TV, November 9, 2017

A Leader for Luminaria, San Antonio Women, November 9, 2017

Celebrates its 10th Anniversary, San Antonio Current, November 7, 2017

The Afterglow of Luminaria will Linger Across San Antonio, San Antonio Express News, November 1, 2017

A Decade of Surprises: The Refined and Undefined Appeal of Luminaria, Arts & Culture, October 24, 2017

Collaborative Mural Marks Luminaria’s Growing Presence, Rivard Report, June 14, 2017

Luminaria Returning to Hemisfair, San Antonio Express News, March 28, 2017

Luminaria Announces New Artistic Committee and a Return to Hemisfair, San Antonio Current, March 28, 2017

San Antonio’s Fall Events You Won’t Want to Miss, San Antonio Current, February 22, 2017

Luminaria, KLRN, December 6, 2016

Unsung Hero, San Antonio Express-News, November 23, 2016

Luminaria 2016 is Done, but the Assesments are Just Beginning, San Antonio Express News, November 15, 2016

Luminaria Illuminates the Carver, Dignowity and Lockwood Parks, Rivard Report, November 12, 2016

Luminaria Shines on the Eastside Hays Street Bridge, Rivard Report, November 10, 2016

Luminaria Marks 9th Anniversary, San Antonio Express News, November 10, 2016

High Hopes for Luminaria’s Ninth Chapter, San Antonio Current, November 9, 2016

Meeet Luminaria’s Artistic Advisory Committee, San Antonio Current, November 9, 2016

Chinese Artists Look Forward to Luminaria, Rivard Report, November 9, 2016

Luminaria: A festival for Audiences and Artists, Paisano, November 2, 2016

2016 Centropolitan Best Downtown Event, Centro San Antonio, October 8, 2016

Luminaria Prepares to Light Up East Side, La Prensa, September 17, 2016

Luminaria Set to Rise in the East, Texas Public Radio, September 13, 2016

Let’s Reignite the Eastside, Rivard Report, September 13, 2016

Biggest Ever Luminaria set for Eastside, San Antonio Express News, September 13, 2016

Eastside Murals to Build Momentum for Luminaria, Rivard Report, July 29, 2016

Eastside to Host Luminaria Art Festival in November, Rivard Report, March 23, 2016

Luminaria Set for Next Round in Downtown East, San Antonio Current, March 23, 2016

Luminaria Moving to East Side, San Antonio Express-News, March 21, 2016

One Last Blast from Luminaria 2015, San Antonio Express-News, February19, 2016

Luminaria Take Two Wraps up in February, San Antonio Express-News, January 17, 2016

Luminaria Presents Take Two, KLRN, November 20, 2015

Plato’s Drums Kicks Off Luminria’s Rain Check Performances, Texas Public Radio, November 9, 2015

Luminaria Take Two: Buttercup and Chris Sauter, The Rivard Report, November 7, 2015

Luminaria Illuminates the Darkness, The Paisano, October 27, 2015

Artists to (Still) See at Luminaria, San Antonio Express-News, October 23, 2015

Luminaria: Come Hell or High Water, The Rivard Report, October 23, 2015

Luminaria Weathers a Storm, San Antonio Express-News, October 23, 2015

Stormy Weather Prompts Luminaria to Shift Gears, San Antonio Express-News, October 22, 2015

Dreary Weather Forces Artists out of Luminaria, KSAT News, October 21, 2015

Luminaria Cancels Some Outdoor Events, San Antonio Current, October 21, 2015

Luminaria 2015 Kicks off Friday, WOAI News, October 20, 2015

Behind the Scenes at Luminaria, KLRN, October 16, 2015

Luminaria Strives to Enlighten, San Antonio Express-News, October 15, 2015

Luminaria is Back for 8th Year, KLRN, October 9, 2015

Bring the Streets to Life, Arts and Culture, October 13, 2015

Luminaria Plans Rolling Along, San Antonio Express-News, September 9, 2015

Luminaria 2015 The Metamorphosis Continues, The Rivard Report, September 9, 2015

Sneak Peak at Luminaria, WOAI News 4, September 9, 2015
Ever-evolving Luminaria heads for SAMA area, San Antonio Express-News, July 18, 2015

Luminaria 2015 Announces Call For Proposals, River North Location, Rivard Report, April 30, 2015

Luminaria names first artistic director, mysanantonio.com, March 12, 2015

New Director Sparks Hope For Luminaria, San Antonio Current, March 12, 2015

Stay in Touch!

Luminaria
PO Box 120188
San Antonio, Texas 78212

210.721.1670
admin@LuminariaSA.org

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