By Anaí Ramirez

For over 30 years  Hecho A Mano has celebrated San Antonio’s culturally unique and vibrant artisan community. This year the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center has partnered with its neighbor the Avenida Guadalupe Association to bring Hecho a Mano to the Plaza Guadalupe. This new Outdoor Market is FREE and open to the public on Saturday December 21, at the Plaza Guadalupe (1327 Guadalupe St. ) from 12PM – 6PM.

Each year hundreds of art lovers and holiday shoppers seek out the array of fine art and handmade items by local artists that encompass both traditional and contemporary styles. In addition to providing a platform for local artisans to sell their wares, the Guadalupe and Avenida want to fill the Plaza with a spirit of friendship and joy. “We want to invite all of our neighbors who live here in our Westside community to come out to this year’s Hecho a Mano along with those who travel from other areas of San Antonio. The holidays are a time to bring people together and we believe that cultural programs like Hecho a Mano are a great way to do that. We hope this year’s expansion will also shine a light on the economic development opportunities that continue to grow in the Guadalupe street corridor.

We want to encourage our local creative entrepreneurs and artisans to continue building their cultural businesses.” says Executive Director Cristina Balli.

The history of Hecho A Mano is a beautiful and important legacy for the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center. This year the Guadalupe and Avenida have chosen to invest in the continued development of the Guadalupe street corridor by expanding the footprint of the market. The new model will demonstrate how cultural programs can provide the thousands of neighborhood residents, long-time arts patrons and visitors to the area a diverse, inclusive and authentic arts experience. Furthermore, as a part of the on-going economic development initiatives in the area this new program direction will offer more access to small businesses and creative entrepreneurs to sell their wares with minimum barriers.

Also, in keeping with the spirit of the season, shoppers are encouraged to bring canned goods which will be donated to Inner City Development once again.

Upcoming Events:

December 13 & 14 Guadalupe Dance Academy Pastorela –  6:30pm

December 17 Guadalupe Music Academy Recital – 7:00pm

December 15 Holiday Saxophones Brunch – 12:00pm

December 15 Holiday Saxophones Concert – 7:00pm

December 21 Hecho a Mano – 12:00pm – 6:00pm

About the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center: founded in 1980 as a nonprofit, multi-disciplinary organization and located in the heart of San Antonio’s westside, the Guadalupe is one of the largest community-based organizations in the US with the mission to cultivate, promote and preserve traditional and contemporary Chicano, Latino and Native American arts and culture through multidisciplinary programming.