The 2024 Luminaria Contemporary Arts Festival will feature several groups featuring youth from across the city, including Cirque Aria, La Techxicana Studio and Fresh Ink Youth Poetry Slam.

“At Luminaria, we do not separate young artists from adults,” said Yadhira Lozano, Luminaria’s executive director. “We encourage youth to create art and engage with adults in exploring themes, concepts and compositions, knowing that their voice and point of view are valid and worthy of presentation.”

Stella will perform an aerial sling solo for Cirque Aria. She has had a passion for music since birth and has completed a year and a half of training. This will be her fourth aerial performance with Cirque Aria. Additionally, Cirque Aria features a dynamic silk duo with talented teenagers Emilia and Hailey, who beautifully mirror each other along the way. This is her second performance with Cirque Aria. Although they are new to the aerial world, these girls have formed a unique bond and have continued to encourage each other throughout their practices.

Luminaria highlights regional, national and international art as well as climate change and material consumption addressed in the Atlantean series: The Play + Rest installation highlights environmental issues, material connections to place and issues of human displacement both locally and globally are. As a recipient of the City of San Antonio’s Individual Artist Grant, Sarah Gonzales Busse will premiere her individual textile works and collaborative project with Begochutx to art students at the Young Women’s Leadership Academy. The aim of the collaboration is to guide students in their artistic engagement with local, natural resources. It provides knowledge of natural textile dyeing that promotes connection to local flora as well as historical and culturally linked dyes such as cochineal, and takes into account our specific geographical and socio-economic challenges related to community and accommodation. These shared explorations will be made available to the broader San Antonio community and Luminaria audiences in this collective, intergenerational, and playful installation.

An artist collective deeply committed to promoting creativity and expression among San Antonio’s youth, Fresh Ink Youth Poetry Slam will present its finals at the 2024 Luminaria Contemporary Arts Fest. Founded in 2010 by Anthony Flores, Andrea “Vocab” Sanderson and a group of passionate teenagers from John Jay, Oliver Holmes and Karen Wagner High School, Fresh Ink Youth Slam is a beacon of artistic support for young poets across Texas. The collaboration, which includes Fresh Ink Youth Poetry Slam, Andrea “Vocab” Sanderson, Anthony “DJ Mr. G” Gordon and Write Art Out, embodies a shared mission to revitalize the youth slam scene and provide aspiring poets with the tools and To provide tools and platforms they need to be successful. Through bi-monthly creative writing workshops, open mics, slams and visual arts workshops, they aim to build a community of fearless artists capable of competing on the national stage. The Luminaria Poetry Slam will serve as the culmination of their efforts, offering a high-profile live performance competition for young poets to shine against the backdrop of one of our region’s most celebrated arts festivals.

The annual festival is free to the public and features over 100 artists representing a wide range of artistic genres. This year’s festival highlights a new location with historical roots. Located on the east side of downtown San Antonio, St. Paul Square will be transformed into an immersive nighttime lights and art display from Commerce Street to the Alamodome on Saturday, October 19, 2024 from 6:00 p.m. to midnight.

The Luminaria Contemporary Arts Festival celebrates the arts by bringing artists from diverse disciplines to exhibit and perform in a vibrant outdoor environment. Attendees can expect a variety of artistic expressions, including visual art, live music, dance, large-scale art installations, theater, poetry and performance art. This year’s festival promises to be a truly immersive and interactive experience as artists have been challenged to reinvent the historic venue and create art that evokes the site’s buildings, railway, balconies, courtyards and public spaces adapts. Visitors can contact the artists directly and experience the creative process.

In addition to the artist exhibitions, attendees can enjoy a variety of local food vendors and a curated selection of local art vendors that add to the festive atmosphere of the event. The Luminaria Contemporary Arts Festival is free and open to the public. It welcomes art enthusiasts of all ages and makes art accessible to everyone. VIP badges are available for sale to the public in limited quantities. This inclusive approach ensures that everyone, from seasoned art lovers to newcomers to the scene, can come and experience the magic of creativity.

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