Ya’ke Smith Filmmaker Ya’Ke Smith’s films have received world-wide acclaim, screening at The Cannes International Film Festival, The Pan African Film and Arts festival, The Sedicorto International Film Festival Forli and The Los Angeles Shorts Film Festival, to name a few. His short “Hope’s War,” was the recipient of the Director’s Guild of America Student Film Award, was officially selected to screen at the Cannes Film Festival as part of Kodak's Emerging Filmmaker Showcase, broadcast nationally on Showtime Television's Black Filmmaker Showcase and was a finalist of BETJ’s The Best Shorts Film Competition. His latest film, “The Second Coming,” was nominated for a Student Academy Award and also won the HBO Short Film Award at the American Black Film Festival. Ya’Ke graduated with his Master’s of Fine Arts degree from the University of Texas at Austin’s film program, where he now lectures. For more information on Ya’ke Smith, visit his website at www.exodusfilmworks.com.

URBAN 15 GROUP Since its beginning in 1974, URBAN 15 GROUP has devoted its energies to creating original work combining music, movement and media for communities throughout Texas, Mexico and the U.S. URBAN-15 is on the forefront of creating a new folk art reflective of contemporary San Antonio while providing artistic access for the community. Since 2003, URBAN-15 has been located at 2500 South Presa on the City’s Southside. For more information on URBAN 15 GROUP, visit their website at www.urban15.org.

Alex Rubio Muralist, painter San Antonio artist Alex Rubio began his career as a young muralist in a housing project. His artwork focuses on narrative drawings and paintings with mixed media, based on images deeply rooted in his Latin American culture. He frequently shares his talent by serving his community through education, teaching at several schools and institutions around San Antonio, including The University of Texas at San Antonio, Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center, and The Bexar County Detention Center. Rubio has exhibited throughout the southwestern United States, as well as New York and Puerto Rico.

San Antonio Opera The San Antonio Opera was founded in 1997. Back then it was known as the San Antonio Pocket Opera and was producing modest,-act opera at the San Pedro Playhouse. Today the opera is one of the largest performing arts organizations in the city, providing professional opera to over 10,000 patrons annually. The opera continues to produce 3 major works annually with some of the biggest names in opera. For more information on the San Antonio Opera, visit their website at www.saopera.com.