31. Artful Transformations: Revitalizing San Antonio's Cultural Landscape with Emily Neff, Kelso Director at San Antonio Museum of Art

big city small town with Bob Rivard

In this episode of bigcitysmalltown with Bob Rivard, the conversation delves into the fascinating world of art, culture, and city revitalization with our special guest, Emily Neff, the Kelso director at the San Antonio Museum of Art.

Emily's extensive experience as a museum director and curator, combined with her passion for enriching cultural assets, brings a fresh perspective to the thriving city of San Antonio. As she shares her insights and expertise, you'll uncover the secrets to successful downtown revival in San Antonio and gain valuable knowledge on how to enhance your own city's urban core.

Discover the transformative power of art and learn how it can shape communities, attract investment, and create a vibrant cultural landscape. Join us on this inspiring journey as we explore major redevelopment projects, market trends, and the positive momentum in downtown revival.

Successful Downtown Revival Strategies Cities like San Antonio are leading the way in implementing successful strategies for downtown revival. By prioritizing the redevelopment of key districts and investing in significant projects such as residential towers and university expansions, these cities are fostering a vibrant downtown culture. Mothers of such strategic initiatives will only enhance the quality of urban life but also propel economic growth, making these areas attractive for residents, workers, and tourists alike.

The resources mentioned in this episode are:

• Visit the San Antonio Museum of Art to experience the deep and rich collections of art from the ancient Mediterranean, Asian art, Latin American art, and more.

• Become a member of SAMA to support the museum and gain access to exclusive benefits.

• Explore the Ewing Halsell wing at SAMA to view the largest collection of ancient Egyptian and near Eastern Greek Roman art in Texas.

• Join a school tour at SAMA to witness the excitement and engagement of children experiencing art in a museum setting.

• Consider the educational value of art museums and how they enhance learning in the classroom.

• Support art education by advocating for art museum visits in schools and recognizing the positive impact it has on students.

• Embrace the history and unique story of SAMA as the only accredited art museum in the country that was formerly a brewery.

• Discover the beauty of adaptive reuse in San Antonio, including the repurposing of the historic Lone Star Brewery and the development of the Museum Reach and Pearl areas.

• Engage with the arts community in San Antonio by participating in and attending events and exhibitions in the River North arts district.

• Take time to appreciate and connect with artwork by spending quiet moments in the galleries

San Antonio Museum of Art

Emily Neff bio