Hermanowski Family Foundation Initial Request Form

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Organization Name: Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center
Legal Name (if Different):
Also Known As:
Mailing Address: 723 S Brazos Street
City: Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center
State: TX
Postal Code: 78207-5532
Main Phone: 2102713151
Main Fax:
Organization Website: https://guadalupeculturalarts.org/
Employer ID Number: 74-2036976
Organization Tax Status: 501(c)3 Non-Profit Organization

Proposal Information

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Today’s Date: 3/28/2024
Requested Amount: 10,000

Project Title: Grupo Animo 2025
Project Description:

Grupo Animo is a free four-week summer program where teens are given a space to express themselves through writing, acting, discussion, and research, developing and presenting their own narratives in a play with actos/skits, video, music and spoken word.

Based on traditional Chicano Theater techniques, the Grupo Animo curriculum is designed to give young people the opportunity to develop their individual voices and share their perspectives in a safe, supportive, and creative environment. The results highlight the pedagogical and psychological advantages of fostering professionally designed theater experiences as a liberatory space for youthful creativity and self-exploration.

The Grupo Animo curriculum is adaptable to the dynamic of each group of participants every year. It begins with a conversation from which key words, phrases, or ideas are taken to create writing exercises based on the participants’ thoughts, feelings, and concerns. The focus is to empower youth voices allowing them to speak in their own language to their peers. Simple theater exercises like scene work, improv, movement, and character development are facilitated and applied in the creation of their work.

The group will meet five hours a day on weekdays in June 2025 and will premiere their original work on at an event free and open to the public. The first three weeks are focused on theatre activities, writing workshops, research, and critical discussions. On the last week, the group will rehearse, perform, and record a final performance.

Grupo Animo was originally created in the 1990’s by nationally recognized theater arts director, performer, and administrator Jorge Piña. It thrived for more than a decade, training hundreds of young teatristas, then went dormant in 2006 until it was revived in 2016. Mr. Piña rejoined in 2017 to oversee the program again, mentoring the next generation of instructors, directors, actors, and producers.

Total Project Budget: 40,000

Other Funding
Sources For The Project (Committed & Potential): Texas Commission on the Arts: $5,000 (P); Mellon Foundation (C): $16,000; National Performance Network: $5,000 (P); National Latino Theater Initiative (C): $3,700

Project Duration: April 1, 2025 – July 3, 2025
Geographical Area Served: San Antonio, Bexar County
Age Group To Be Served: 13-18

Contact Information

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Contact Prefix (Mr,Mrs etc.): Mr.
Contact First Name: EUGENIO
Contact Last Name: DEL BOSQUE
Contact Title: Program Operations Manager
Contact Phone: 2102713151
Contact Email: grants@guadalupeculturalarts.org