Adrift in the doldrums between CAM and Fotoseptiembre, Artifacts’ sails filled a little at news that the Mayor is working on developing something called Noche Blanca, a day and night of arts festivities featuring public performance and installations. While one skeptic suggested that naming a San Antonio event White Night is like hosting Kristallnacht in Jerusalem, Artifacts notes that it’s modeled on European and Canadian festivals. Office of Cultural Affairs Director Felix Padrón went to Chicago in May to observe their version, which drew 800,000 people. Too chaotic, he said, but Windy City press raved about it.
OCA likely won’t be in charge, although Padrón says OCA’s expanded art budget will be tapped for the event. “At the end of the day, the way we’d like to think of it is it still goes back into the arts community,” says Padrón.
The Mayor is busy with the budget this week, said spokeswoman Jeanne Russell, but we’ll have details soon. Committees aren’t even finalized yet, she adds: “It’s really more of an idea right now.”
But an idea, suggests another City source, that could debut in the Mayor’s redone Main Plaza next spring.
