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Ruby City got its start thanks to the late Linda Pace — an artist, collector and philanthropist — who dreamed up the idea back in 2007. She wanted to create a space where people from all walks of life could experience powerful, thought-provoking art from both local and international artists. And she made sure it would be a place where everyone could join in, with free events designed for all ages to explore contemporary art in a hands-on way.

What does it take to keep the arts alive from one generation to the next? In San Antonio, the answer lies in the dedicated work of artists who not only perform and create but also teach, mentor and inspire. From Alamo City Arts, where Folklorico dancers and Mariachi musicians pass down centuries-old traditions, to The Tobin Center’s groundbreaking Generation NEXT program, which begins arts education as early as infancy, to S.M.A.R.T. 501c3, where art, neuroscience and gardening converge into a holistic model for education — these initiatives prove that art is more than performance. It’s legacy.

Art is everywhere in San Antonio. It brightens walls and bridges, and blossoms in squares and parks. There’s art in long-abandoned alleys and on columns under expressways. The city’s colorful spirit shines forth in paint, tile, stone and all kinds of creative media. On a busy workday in a concrete jungle, an unexpected encounter with a work of art can be an instant reset. It asks you to stop and smell the flowers, even if the flowers are made of oversized bicycle parts. A vivid splash of art can also bring people together to celebrate in a place as barren as a neglected alley or provide a breathing space for moments of reflection.