Urban 15 Group Inc

“The entire Board of Directors is offered the opportunity to review the organizations annual Form 990 at a regularly scheduled Board meeting or by email. Board questions are referred to the preparer, and once the Board is satisfied that the tax return is fairly preesented, it is signed by the President or Artistic Director and submitted.”

“The organization makes its organizational documents, financial statements, and Form 990 available to the general public upon written request for the information.”

“Urban-15 creates. We motivate creativity, inspire imagination and bring optimism to our community. Using Music, Movement and Media, our vision realizes productions that merge traditional Latino culture, modern artistic aesthetics, and creative technologies educational programs that develop skills and creativity and life-long access to and participation in artistic exploration for both the artist and the community. Urban-15 pursues a philosophy of inclusion that crosses lines of gender, class, race, and religion. Breaking prejudicial barriers of size, age, and norms of physical beauty, we have transformed the way our community celebrates and revolutionized community access to music and dance.”

“ORGANIZATIONAL HISTORY- URBAN-15 began in 1974 as an experimental performance ensemble with fifteen artists - electronic music composers, dancers, conceptual artists, and environmental sculptors - using the city as our stage and canvas. After forty-three years as an arts group and thirty-five years as a San Antonio-based non-profit, we are still using the city as our canvas as street dancers, drummers and media artists. Our goal is to create situations that stimulate the imagination of all who encounter them.”

“URBAN-15s CENTER FOR CELEBRATION ARTS - In 2003, URBAN-15 purchased a property at 2500 S. Presa. This site consists of a three building complex totaling 19,631 sq. ft. and includes a red brick church, a two-story dormitory, and a one-story structure with an enclosed garden. This is now the permanent home of the URBAN-15 Group, as it transforms the campus into The Center for Celebration Arts, to include a 150-seat auditorium as well as rehearsal and studio spaces and classrooms. With its diversity of programs and projects, URBAN-15 remains committed to a broad vision of arts creation and mentoring into the future. Some of these ongoing programs and projects include the following”

“CARNAVAL DE SAN ANTO - Now in its 30th year, CDSA is our multi-generational, award winning drum and dance ensemble. With dancers and musicians of all ages, all sizes, and all abilities, CDSA has revolutionized community access to music and dance.”

“UTOPIAN PERFORMANCE ENSEMBLE - The touring wing of CDSA is often used as Cultural Ambassadors for our beautiful city. This ensemble officially represented San Antonio at the presidential inaugurations of Obama, Bush, and Clinton on tours of Mexico via the US State Department and Mexicos CONARTE and in the annual Carnaval de los Muertos Procession. The audiences of their performances number in the millions through live and television appearances.”

“THE CULTIVATION PROJECT FOR YOUTH A free, year-round Music, Media and Movement program with artists in the schools, events in our studio and major city-wide concerts. Programs such as Dance Advance, Drum Crewe, Samba Chicas, Techno-Comix, Holiday Laser Show, and Josiah Youth Media Festival have served over 41 schools. Good things happen when good seeds are planted. We are planting seeds that cultivate the quality of life.”

“THE CULTIVATION PROJECT FOR SENIORS A free, year-round music and dance project for people that are over 60. Programs are held in senior centers around the city. Programs include Hot Latin Dance Class and Rhythm Royale Percussion Ensemble.”

“INTERNET STREAMING VIDEO LAB A real-time video streaming studio for screening performances and classes. The TriCaster system makes it possible to create and distribute live broadcasts with professional production values. Productions include Mega Corazon Online Poetry Marathon, which features 15 performance poets in 9 hours, and Sonic Provation, an experimental sound art series that presents jazz, spoken work and multi-media performances.”

“MEDIA FESTIVALS AND WORKSHOPS Screenings of local to international media productions, including the annual Manhattan Short Film Festival, as well as workshops in media technology which provide professional and community technical assistance.”

“URBAN SCHOOL OF MUSIC AND DANCE Classes in Latin/African dance and drumming forms.”

“NOS UNIMOS SA Project A senior computer access/training program amassing an online, interactive exhibit of photographs of San Antonio families and functioning as an online e-museum. Over 3,700 images have been acquired thus far and reside on the server.”

“Professional Fees 28,830, Other Services 510, Outside Artistic Services 29,972, Repair Services 10,640, Other Contract Services 2,901 72,853 Other Fees for services non-employees”