San Antonio, TX–Today, U.S. Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28) announced $10,000 for the Luminaria Contemporary Arts Festival. The funds will help support local artists by helping cover expenses for the planning and installation of the festival. 

“This grant funding provided by the National Endowment of the Arts (NEA) will help ensure that we continue supporting local artists while expanding access to arts for residents and stimulating our local economy,” said Congressman Cuellar. “Over the years, the Luminaria Contemporary Arts Festival has helped strengthen relationships and foster a sense of community pride. I would like to thank Executive Director Yadhira Lozano, and the rest of the staff at Luminaria for their commitment to inspire––I look forward to many more years of fruitful collaboration.” 

"The arts are an essential part of our everyday lives, and as we navigate this post-pandemic era, we seek it out even more for inspiration, healing, to cope, and celebrate," said Yadhira Lozano, Executive Director, Luminaria."Receiving NEA grant funding is not just a vital revenue source but also a nod to the work we do to contribute to society. The highest government arts office is validating the dedication and determination of Luminaria artists to forge ahead and continue to inspire."

“The National Endowment for the Arts is proud to support arts projects in communities nationwide,” said NEA Chair Maria Rosario Jackson, PhD.“Projects such as this one with Luminaria strengthen arts and cultural ecosystems, provide equitable opportunities for arts participation and practice, and contribute to the health of our communities and our economy.”

The annual Luminaria Contemporary Arts Festival inspires local audiences with performances and installations by regional, national, and international artists whose stories and styles tell a tale full of dreams and imagination. 

NEA Grants for Arts Projects provide comprehensive and expansive funding opportunities for communities. Through project-based funding, the grants support opportunities for public engagement with the arts and arts education, for the integration of the arts with strategies promoting the health and well-being of people, and for the improvement of overall capacity and capabilities within the art sector.