Mission
THE URBAN-15 GROUP is dedicated to the living arts of our region. Since its genesis in 1974, the organization has devoted its energies to creating original work combining Music, Movement and Media for communities throughout Texas, Mexico and the U.S. Even in our modern times as an international city San Antonio remains a frontier outpost. It is a place of diverse cultures where the past and present often exist side by side. This has led us to develop a philosophy of inclusion, combining Traditional Latino Culture with Modern Artistic Aesthetics, crossing lines of gender, class, race, religion and breaking the prejudice barriers of size, age and physical beauty. URBAN-15 is on the forefront of creating a new folk art reflective of contemporary San Antonio while providing artistic access for our community.
Organizational History
URBAN-15 started in 1974 as an Experimental Performance Ensemble with fifteen artists making art with the city. Conceptual artists, electronic music composers, dancers, environmental sculptors we were using the city as our stage/canvas. Fast forward: Thirty-three years as an arts group, twenty-four years as a non-profit we are still using the city as our canvass as street dancers, drummers and media artists. Our goal is to create situations that stimulate the imagination of each one.
URBAN-15 CENTER FOR CELEBRATION ARTS
In 2003, URBAN-15 purchased a property at 2500 S. Presa. This site consists of a three building complex. A red brick church a two story Dormitory and a one-story structure with an enclosed garden. The total complex area is 19,631 sq. ft. This is now the permanent home of the URBAN-15 Group as it transforms the campus into The Center for Celebration Arts in South Side San Antonio.
URBAN-15 fills a specific role in the community’s cultural life by providing:
* Lifelong Learning Opportunities
* Cultural Events
* Professional Development
Teaching Staff
Catherine Cisneros, Artistic Director of THE URBAN-15 GROUP
Co-Founder of URBAN-15 in 1974, and Artistic Director since 1990.
Under her leadership, she established Carnaval de San Anto in 1988, UTOPIAN in 1992. She has taken her company to several International Festivals in Mexico most recently Monterrey, Matamoros and Nuevo Laredo in 2006and participated in the 2001 and the 1997 Presidential Inaugurations. She is the recipient of the Mind Science Imagineers Award 1999. UT Austin Art Dept. 1772-1975, University of Houston Sculpture Dept./Dance Dept.1976-1979
Both a dancer and visual artist, Catherine has danced with:
Kista Tucker DanceArt
Donna Gardner modern dance company
THE URBAN-15 GROUP
She has taught dance for:
The Texas Commision on the Arts
Healy Murphy Learning Center
San Antonio Museum of Art
City of San Antonio Department of Arts and Cultural Affairs
ArtsTeach
San Antonio Academy Summer Arts Program
Kids Connection
Anita Casas, Associate Director of THE URBAN 15 GROUP
She has danced with:
Teresa Champion - Flamenco
Ballet Folklorico de San Antonio
Gisela Noriega Company
Eduardo Montemayor - Flamenco
Gisela Noriega Company
Anita has taught for THE URBAN 15 GROUP
Deirdre Ann LaCour, Assistant Director
She has danced with:
Anike
THE URBAN 15 GROUP
Deirdre has taught for THE URBAN 15 GROUP
,George Cisneros, Music Director and Media Director
Co-Founder of URBAN-15 since 1974. Mr. Cisneros is a Composer and a Technology Artist –A 1981 NEA-Arts Fellowship Recipient in “Experimental Genres”. Cisneros has been an activist and proponent for experimental and community-based artworks utilizing interactive electronics, video, sound and performance.As Music Director, his duties include creating and selecting all original compositions for the company, auditioning musicians and is the music instructor for the professional, community and children classes. He acquired his Bachelors Degree in Music from the University of Houston (1977) and a Masters of Music Composition from the Ohio State University (1987). Mr. Cisneros maintains a multimedia production studio VuTure Arts and has exhibited throughout the country.
In recent years he has explored large interactive works such as the touring "Pix(el)Muerto" a 21-screen video altar for Dia De Los Muertos: "In the Light of Passing Measures", a permanent 26-monitor electronic mural at the entrance of the San Antonio International Center and the "Atomic Spur", a 31x14x7-ft aluminum, neon and LED sculpture commissioned by the San Antonio Spurs at the SBC Center. His current project "NOS UNIMOS", a web-based eMuseum of families who have lived or are living in San Antonio’s historic Westside, is a collaboration of VuTURE ART, the University of Texas-San Antonio, the City of San Antonio’s Office of Community Initiatives and the U.S. Department of Commerce. This site can be accessed at www.unimos-sa.com.
STEVE AUSTED- Assistant Percussionist
percussionist and educator has over twenty years experience a professional musician. A graduate from California State University at Fullerton, Austad toured with several bands during the seventies as a set drummer and Latin percussionist in the Los Angeles and Las Vegas rock concert and casino hotel showcases. He was a middle school band director for eleven years before moving to San Antonio, He performs with URBAN-15’s Carnaval de San Anto and is principle percussion teacher for the CULTIVATION Project.
Board of Directors
Hector J. Gonzalez ___________ President
William Albright ______________ Vice President
Jane Thomas ________________Secretary
Roger Solis__________________Treasurer