The Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center

Dance Program

For over thirty years the Guadalupe’s Dance Program has offered educational classes and is home to the professional resident Guadalupe Dance Company. Unique among the nation’s dance ensembles, the company is one of the leading professional Mexican Folklorico and Spanish Flamenco companies. With artistic guidance of visiting artists, the Dance Company produces both original contemporary and traditional dance productions throughout the year. 

Theatre Arts

The GCAC’s Theatre Arts program delivers a season of theatrical productions, staged readings, artist development programs, educational workshops, and opportunities for both emerging and established playwrights, actors, directors, designers and performing artists to develop their craft and showcase their work. The program also manages the GCAC’s resident teen theatre company Grupo Animo. Prior to the historic Guadalupe Theater being closed due to renovations, thousands of audience members annually enjoyed a diverse array of theatre offerings. 

Visual Arts

The Visual Arts Program offers exhibitions, artist talks and tours open and free to our neighbors and tourists alike. Established in 2005, within a roughly 3,000sqft converted warehouse, the Galeria Guadalupe can provide host to a multitude of mediums, works and events that expand our interpretation of the world around us. On average, the GCAC features a new exhibition roughly every 6–8 weeks, with an emphasis on local and regional artists. Since 2015 there have been 11 artist talks, 25 unique exhibitions, 150 artists presented, and 5000 visitors to the Galeria. The output of the program has received over 60 press mentions and garnered admirable community support — logging nearly 400hrs of volunteer commitment to our space for 2016 alone. 

EDUCATION PROGRAM

The Guadalupe Academy GCAC’s arts education program offers classes to students of all ages in traditional, contemporary, and culturally relevant arts practices in dance, music, theatre and visual arts. Currently classes are offered in Mexican Folklorico and Spanish Flamenco dance, Mariachi Vocal, Guitar, Violin, & Ensemble, Conjunto Accordion, Piano, Painting, and Theatre Arts for Teens. Classes are held in the after-school hours and on Saturdays year round. The Guadalupe Academy currently has 143 students enrolled in education classes and reaches over 5,000 audience members through annual recital and public performances. Additional partnerships with Pre-K For SA, WellMed Senior Center, Loma Park and Winston Elementary, and specialized workshops requested throughout the year reach an additional 295 children, families, and community members. 

Who We Are

The Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center (GCAC) was founded in 1980 as a nonprofit, multidisciplinary organization. Located in the heart of San Antonio’s Westside, the Guadalupe is one of the largest community-based, culturally specific and multi-disciplinary organizations in the U.S. The GCAC operates programming in 6 disciplines; Dance, Literature, Theatre Arts, Music, Media Arts, and Visual Art. The center also offers year-round educational programming through its Guadalupe Academy, guest artist workshops, lecture/demonstration programs, and free cultural events such as the Gran Tamalada, Dia de los Muertos Celebration, and outdoor block party WestFest. The GCAC produces three annual festivals: CineFestival, the longest running Latino Film Festival at nearly 40 years old, the Tejano Conjunto Festival now in its 36th year, and the arts and crafts fair, Hecho a Mano in its 30th year. Through these professionally administered programs the GCAC embraces the roots and history of our diverse culture while continuing to further expand and define our unique American experience...