Arts + Cultura - Melissa Cabello Havrda for San Antonio

Let’s create Opportunities here at home

Elevating Arts

& Culture in San Antonio

San Antonio’s soul comes from our arts and culture.

Our artists bring it to life: the dancers and actors who fill our theaters, the musicians who give our city its rhythm, and the muralists whose work tells the stories of our past and future. For too long, San Antonio’s arts and culture scene has been bogged down by red tape and held back by a system that prioritizes private investments over the artists themselves.

Melissa believes the arts should never take a backseat.

The city’s cultural institutions—Majestic, Alameda, and others—must serve the artists and communities for which they were built. That means transparency, accountability, and a real investment in the creative community, not just venues and infrastructure.

Under Melissa’s leadership, the city will take an honest look at the barriers holding artists back,

from decision-making in city management to funding models that leave independent artists struggling. Melissa will fight to cut through the bureaucracy that slows down projects and funding. And she’ll ensure that San Antonio actively builds an arts ecosystem that supports and sustains the people who create it.

Championing Artists & Cultural Organizations

Artists are the heart of San Antonio’s identity—they tell our stories, challenge us to dream bigger, and bring our culture to life. Melissa believes that investing in artists is about preserving our city’s creative spirit while ensuring that those who make San Antonio unforgettable can afford to live, work, and create here. She’s committed to strengthening the creative community by breaking down funding barriers, expanding opportunities, and making sure the arts are a central part of the city’s future.

Expand Municipal Funding: Advocate for increased allocations from the Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT) and other dedicated revenue streams, ensuring the arts remain a core part of the city’s identity.
Target Equity in Funding: Expand access to grants for artists in underserved areas through dedicated programs, grant navigation support, and workshops. A bilingual public awareness campaign will ensure all communities can participate and see their stories reflected in San Antonio’s cultural narrative.
Ensure Arts Leadership at City Hall: Advocate for leadership within city management that understands the arts industry. Ensure that those who make decisions affecting artists and cultural organizations have the knowledge and experience to prioritize creative professionals and avoid political bureaucracy.
Empower Local Artists: Uplift and support creative fellowships to engage artists in public projects that transform shared spaces into vibrant hubs of inspiration and pride.

Infusing Art into Everyday Life

Melissa is committed to making creativity an integral part of city infrastructure and public policy, showcasing San Antonio as a city that values and prioritizes the arts.

Public Art in City Projects: Melissa pushed for 2% of all major infrastructure budgets to be allocated to public art installations, integrating creativity into parks, libraries, and transit hubs—let’s invest more and increase that to 3%.
City Artist Residency Program: Embed artists within city departments to tackle civic challenges with fresh, creative perspectives—whether in transportation, public health, or urban planning.
Arts Endowment: Collaborate with private donors and philanthropic organizations to create an Arts Endowment Fund that provides sustainable, long-term funding for arts and culture initiatives.
Fair and Transparent Arts Funding: Modify how city bond funding is structured to ensure arts organizations have opportunities to compete fairly for resources. Melissa will push for full transparency in how arts funding is allocated, ensuring that budgets and spending across arts organizations are publicly accessible and equitably distributed.

Designated Creative Hubs: Support the development of walkable arts and culture corridors, including galleries, performance spaces, and studios.
Affordable Creative Spaces: Provide tax incentives to property owners who transform vacant properties into affordable studios, galleries, and performance venues.
Activating Public Spaces: Fund pop-up performances, festivals, and art markets to create dynamic, accessible cultural experiences across the city.

Establishing Creative Districts

San Antonio’s neighborhoods are cultural jewels, each with unique stories and energy. Melissa will work to amplify these assets by fostering arts districts.

Showcasing San Antonio

as a Cultural Destination

Melissa envisions San Antonio as a global leader in arts and culture, drawing visitors from around the world to experience our rich heritage and creative spirit.

Cultural Tourism Marketing: immigrant and undocumented families from fear of reprisal or discrimination.
Expand Signature Events: Strengthen support for festivals and free, family-friendly events that draw residents and tourists alike, showcasing San Antonio as a city where art and culture are always in motion.
Collaborative Travel Packages: Partner with Visit San Antonio and local businesses to integrate arts into tourism, creating packages that celebrate local culture and creativity.

Establishing a City Music Office

San Antonio boasts a rich and diverse musical heritage, from Tejano and conjunto to country, punk, and hip-hop, making it a longstanding cultural hub. Yet, unlike other major Texas cities, San Antonio lacks a dedicated, government-funded music office to support its industry. The COVID-19 pandemic dealt a heavy blow to the local music scene, forcing venue closures, creating financial hardships for musicians, and reducing live performances.

Establishing a city-funded music office would help revitalize and grow San Antonio’s music industry by supporting local musicians, venues, and promoters and boosting tourism and economic development.