Before getting into the future of the arts in Laredo, I think it helps to clarify what I mean by “art.” It’s not the mass-produced décor sold in retail stores, which can make creativity seem quick or effortless. It is work created with intention, thoughtful enough to transform a blank space the way a house doesn’t feel like a home until you add something meaningful. That is the foundation for how I envision the future of Laredo’s art scene. And to understand where I’m headed, it’s important to acknowledge the progress that’s led us here.
Where We Started
Although the Arts & Culture Division officially launched in 2025, the visionaries who led this effort began laying the groundwork years earlier. In 2017, the Fine Arts & Culture Commission (FACC) and nine Laredoans appointed by the Mayor and City Council to represent their districts and offer guidance rooted in community interest, signaled early recognition that art had a role in shaping Laredo’s development.
In 2019, City Council adopted Ordinance 2019-O-177, recognizing public art as a contributor to economic development, beautification, and civic pride, an important step toward embedding creativity into city projects. By 2021, the Laredo Art Master Plan (LAMP) was developed, providing strategic direction for how Laredo could intentionally grow a stronger, more vibrant cultural landscape.
Where We Stand Now
As the City’s Public Arts Program Manager, implementing LAMP’s vision means navigating federal, state, and municipal requirements while coordinating with departments across the city. The support from city officials and administration has been essential, and even as a one-person division, progress continues because of their willingness to recognize the value of public art within broader city efforts.
On October 6, 2025, City Council approved our first Public Arts Annual Plan, an important milestone marking the shift from planning to implementation. As a new division, our focus is to serve as a resource for city departments, helping integrate art early and thoughtfully into their projects. This work requires patience and collaboration. Artists bring imagination, passion, and sometimes complexity to a project, qualities that can challenge municipal structure but also produce some of the most impactful results.
Where We’re Headed
If we continue building on this momentum, I believe we’ll see a stronger creative presence throughout our community, offering moments that enhance our quality of life, strengthen neighborhoods, support economic development, and celebrate Laredo’s diverse people, history, and natural environment. I’m grateful to be part of the story that continues to unfold for Laredo. Public spaces will welcome both residents and visitors to experience a Laredo in which culture connects us, and creativity is part of everyday life.
This past September, Council Member Alyssa Cigarroa invited me to attend “Imagine, Create, Activate!” in Chicago. The gathering brought together public art administrators, consultants, and artists to discuss how creativity strengthens public spaces and communities.
Seeing murals, installations, and cultural programming woven throughout Chicago offered transformative insight into what Laredo can build as our own program matures. I also had the opportunity to observe firsthand how Council Member Cigarroa’s continued support for the arts and confidence in Laredo’s creative potential play an important role in advancing this work and opening new opportunities for growth in our community.
Looking ahead, I envision the Arts & Culture Division establishing a physical home — ideally downtown, in the heart of the art district, where our growing civic art collection can be displayed and rotated throughout the year, a true placemaking space where residents can experience local artwork, attend workshops and events such as Caminarte, and participate in art programs.
When staffing expands, we will be given the opportunity to take on more ambitious projects, whether that’s something as complex as projection mapping or creative work that goes beyond visual art and includes performing arts, music, dance, and other forms that highlight the full range of talent in Laredo.
There will always be challenges. Art is sometimes overlooked or misunderstood compared to more immediate operational needs. Blank walls and blank spaces feel unfinished, whether in a home or a city. Just as a home gains warmth and identity when meaningful art is added, a city becomes more expressive and connected when creativity is visible in its public spaces.
Laredo’s art future is already taking shape. With every project, collaboration, and creative voice, we move closer to the version of Laredo that reflects who we are, and who we aspire to be.
(I wasn’t born in Laredo, but I grew up here and graduated from United South High School. I have never felt the need to leave. I studied both art and mathematics, learning so much from our local institutions and taking every opportunity they offered, including chances to travel. Regardless of the student debt that tagged along on my adventures abroad, I always hoped to bring the experiences I gathered, especially those moments of exploration and wonder through art, back to Laredo. I enjoy supporting others in our community, from introducing kids to confidence and discipline through karate, to helping students in their studies and mentoring them through the transitions I once faced myself. In my role managing Laredo’s Arts & Culture Division, I carry that same commitment and desire forward. On the most challenging days, this work reinforces my belief in the impact art can have on all of us and offers me the chance to give back to the community that shaped me.)
