Art can be a language through which a community expresses itself. Art can be a medium to bring people closer together. Art can serve as an instrument to channel difficult conversations. Art can educate a city on its past, present and future. At the Department of Arts & Culture, we strive to enrich the quality of life of San Antonio residents and visitors by leading and investing in San Antonio’s arts and culture. We hope to inspire the public to participate in the arts, whether it is through cultural events, public art, music, film or creating their own art.

We are funded by the hotel occupancy tax and supported in part by the Texas Commission on the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts. The department's policies and procedures are advised by the San Antonio Arts Commission, whose members are appointed by City Council and the Mayor. The department is comprised of four divisions: Arts Funding, Public Art San Antonio, Cultural Events & Exhibits and Film, Music & Marketing.

2019 ANNUAL REPORT 

Click here to watch our 2019 recap video. Or download the printed version here. 

• $7.2M – funds awarded to 48 art agencies in San Antonio
• 4.2M – combined attendees to cultural events produced by funded art agencies
• $57M – leveraged from other funding organizations 
• 64 – San Antonio artists featured in department galleries
• 15,629 – visitors to department galleries 
• 29 – countries represented by visitors attending department exhibits 
• 13 – San Antonio-based artists and fabricators worked on new public art installations 
• 12 – new public art projects installed
• 260 – days production companies filmed in San Antonio 
• 20 – musicians featured during City Council meetings 
• 5,263 – weekly e-newsletter subscribers
• 34,398 – social media followers