Free Ways to Enjoy Arts & Culture This Summer

Published on June 21, 2023

Art exhibits, concerts, film screenings and much more to explore throughout San Antonio.

SAN ANTONIO (June 21, 2023) — To celebrate the first official day of summer, the City of San Antonio’s Department of Arts & Culture is providing a round-up of free ways to make the most of the season. 

Public Art

Summer is the perfect time to explore over 600+ pieces of public artworks in the City of San Antonio’s Public Art Collection. All pieces are free and accessible to all, with newer installations by San Antonio artists including: 

• “Bloom” sculptures by artist Leticia Huerta at Southside Lions Park.
• “The Spirit Within” mural by collaborative artists Ashleigh Garza and Hailey Marmolejo at Historic Market Square.
• “Poet’s Pointe” by San Antonio artists Kim Bishop and Luis Valderas at 2509 W. Mistletoe. 

Art Exhibits

• The City of San Antonio’s Department of Arts & Culture manages two gallery spaces – Centro de Artes and Culture Commons. Both are always free to visit. Currently on display in the Centro de Artes Gallery is “Soy de Tejas: A Statewide Survey of Latinx Art” by guest curator Rigoberto Luna. The exhibit runs through July 2, 2023. At the Culture Commons Gallery is “Between Yesterday & Tomorrow: Perspectives from Black Contemporary Artists of San Antonio” by guest curator Barbara Felix, on display now through November 18, 2023. 
• Now to June 29: Centro Cultural Aztlan is presenting Luis “Chispas” Guerrero’s “Metal to the Pedal.”
• Now to June 30: Salsa Diaz is displaying “Floating between Chaos and Peace” by San Antonio artist Alethia Jones.
• Now to August 11:The Texas Watercolor Society's 74th Annual Exhibit is on display at the Kelso Art Center of the University of the Incarnate.
• Now to August 11: The International Encaustic Artists Annual Juried Exhibition: Wax and Wildflowers is on display at the San Antonio Art League and Museum.
• Now to September 3: Artpace San Antonio is hosting “We Are Quilted Together” by San Antonio artist Angela Guerra Walley.
• Now to September 3: The Contemporary at Blue Star is showing “Actions for the Earth: Art, Care & Ecology.”

Live Music and Concerts

• Every Thursday Night in June and July starting at 7:30 p.m.: Texas Public Radio, in partnership with the Department of Arts & Culture, hosts Summer Night City Live Music Series at Legacy Park. 
• June 23: Enjoy Opera Under the Stars which is a free concert in collaboration with Classical Music Institute and the Main Plaza Conservancy starting at 7:30 p.m. The evening concludes with The Saga light show projected on the façade of the San Fernando Cathedral.
• June 24, 26 and 27: In collaboration with San Antonio Public Library, OPERA San Antonio is presenting Explore Opera For Kids! – a concert series bringing family-friendly opera to five SAPL locations. 
• July 4: The Heart of Texas Concert Band will close the 2022-23 season with the annual Independence Day concert, this year entitled “An Alamo City Fourth” starting at 3 p.m. at Trinity Baptist Church. 

Literary Arts

• June 22: The San Antonio Book Festival is hosting a Pride event with author John Paul Brammer in conversation with Michael Quintanilla at the Scobee Education Center & Planetarium starting at 7 p.m. 
• July 4 and August 1: The San Antonio African American Archive and Museum is offering Story Time in the Park for kids at Hemisfair starting at 10 a.m. 

Film Screenings

• July 8: The Mexican American Civil Rights Institute is offering a dive-in screening of a trio of indie shorts at Elmendorf Lake Park Pool starting at 8 p.m. 
• July 14 and August 11: The Tobin Center for the Performing Arts is hosting its H-E-B Cinema on Will’s Plaza featuring family-friendly movies. 
• July 26: The San Antonio African American Archive and Museum is presenting its Black History Film Series: Freedom Riders at the Magik Theatre starting at 6 p.m. 

Get Creative and Moving 

• July 15 and July 17: SAY Sí is offering Summer Saturday Studio Sessions for all ages between 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. 
• July 15 and August 19: The City of San Antonio’s World Heritage Office is hosting a Farmers & Artisans Market which kicks off with a free workout class at 9 a.m. at Mission Marquee Plaza.

Find even more arts and culture events and learn more about the Department of Arts & Culture at SanAntonio.gov/Arts and follow @GetCreativeSA