The URBAN-15 Group

What The URBAN-15 Group does

The URBAN-15 Group is a non-profit arts organization founded in 1974 and based at 2500 S. Presa in San Antonio, Texas, operating across the disciplines of music, movement, and media. Its core programming centers on Carnaval de San Anto, an award-winning community drum and dance ensemble created in 1987 that has performed at three U.S. presidential inaugurations (Clinton, Bush, Obama) and is available for hire at parades, festivals, corporate functions, and stage events. The organization runs the CULTIVATION youth and senior arts education programs serving over 10,000 students annually across multiple schools and senior centers, plus signature annual events including the Josiah Media Festival (a nationwide film competition for filmmakers 21 and under), Mega Corazón (an April spoken-word marathon), the Holiday Laser Show, and the Hidden Histories online video series. Technology infrastructure includes a TriCaster-equipped multimedia production studio with three-camera capture, 16-track audio recording, live streaming capability, and a 20ft x 14ft green-screen virtual set environment, supporting both organizational broadcasts and fee-based facility rentals. The organization is led by co-founders Catherine Cisneros (Artistic Director) and George Cisneros (Music and Media Director).

Name

The URBAN-15 Group

Legal name

The URBAN-15 Group

Website

https://urban15.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The URBAN-15 Group is a San Antonio non-profit arts organization founded in 1974 that delivers music, movement, and media programming through the Carnaval de San Anto drum-and-dance ensemble, the CULTIVATION youth and senior education programs, and annual festivals including the Josiah Media Festival, Mega Corazón, and the Holiday Laser Show.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Arts Education

NAICS

Performing Arts Companies (7111), Musical Groups and Artists (711130), Dance Companies (71112)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990), Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)

akta.pro primary industry

Performing Arts Organizations (Theater, Dance, Opera, Music) (BPAGAHAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Group Music Classes & Ensembles (Band, Orchestra, Choir) (EDAMANAC), Dance Education (Ballet, Contemporary, Hip-Hop, Cultural Dance) (EDAMAAAH), Community & Amateur Theatre (MPAGABAD), Cultural Centers & Community Cultural Organizations (BPAGAHAD)

Keywords

• Community arts education
• Performing arts ensemble
• Youth arts programs
• Cultural arts programming
• Multimedia production services

Headquarters

HQ city

San Antonio

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Sponsorships and Grants: Non-profit organization funded significantly by sponsorships from City of San Antonio Department of Arts and Cultures, San Antonio Area Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts, Texas Commission on the Arts, and corporate sponsors including HEB, Union Pacific, and others
2. Performance Bookings: Carnaval de San Anto drum and dance ensemble available for hire at events, festivals, corporate functions, and parades. Three performance types offered: Parades, Stage Shows, and Small Ensembles
3. Facility Rental: 2,800-square-foot studio rental for events including film screenings (up to 150 seats), classes/rehearsals, performances, and recording/live streaming services
4. Workshop Instruction: Teaching staff available for workshops in percussion and dance for children's festivals, retreats, and team building exercises
5. Donations and Support: Public donations supported by stated commitment to inclusion philosophy breaking prejudicial barriers. Donations fund free youth and senior arts programs

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The URBAN-15 Group is a non-profit arts organization that delivers community-based programming integrating music, movement, and media. Its flagship offering is the Carnaval de San Anto drum and dance performance ensemble, complemented by the CULTIVATION youth and senior education programs, the annual Josiah Media Festival for young filmmakers, the Mega Corazón spoken word marathon, and the Holiday Laser Show. The organization also generates earned revenue through performance bookings, 2,800-square-foot studio facility rental, and percussion and dance workshop instruction.

Product overview

URBAN-15 is a non-profit arts organization offering a multi-faceted portfolio of arts programs centered around Music, Movement, and Media. The organization operates community-based performance ensembles (Carnaval de San Anto drum and dance ensemble), annual events (Josiah Media Festival film festival, Mega Corazon spoken word marathon, Holiday Laser Show), educational programs (CULTIVATION for youth, Cultivation Project for elders, Radiant Beams for deaf children), and services (Live Stream broadcasting, CDSA Booking, Facility Rental, Workshops). The core offering is community arts access and education, targeting economic and social disparity while breaking prejudicial barriers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CULTIVATION: URBAN-15's in-house and outreach education program involving music, movement, and media instruction for youth and special-needs populations.
• Carnaval de San Anto
• Josiah Media Festival
• Mega Corazón
• Holiday Laser Show
• Hidden Histories

Quantifiable outcome

• 10,000+ students served annually through CULTIVATION programs
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• San Antonio Film CommissionminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSupports Josiah Media Festival and film-related programming through promotion and resources.
• VuTure ArtsTechnology or IntegrationGeorge Cisneros maintains multimedia production studio named VuTure Arts; exhibits electronic sound and projection works.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Ballet Hispánico: NYC-based Latino dance company combining performance, education, and community programs. Highly comparable to URBAN-15's Carnaval de San Anto dance/music ensemble model and youth dance education offerings.
• La Peña Cultural Center: Berkeley-based Latino cultural center presenting performing arts, film, and community programming. Closely comparable to URBAN-15 in its integration of Latino cultural programming, performance ensembles, and community-based arts education.
• Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center: San Antonio-based Latino cultural nonprofit offering performing arts, education, and media programming. Shares URBAN-15's geographic base, Latino cultural focus, and multi-program nonprofit model across dance, music, and community arts.
• National Dance Institute: New York-based nonprofit providing free dance education to children. Closely mirrors URBAN-15's CULTIVATION youth programming model combining in-school and community dance/music instruction for underserved youth.
• National Performance Network: National network supporting performing artists and presenters in community engagement. Comparable to URBAN-15 in the performing arts nonprofit space with shared emphasis on community-driven programming.
• Alternate ROOTS: Regional network of performing arts organizations across the Southern U.S. focused on community-based, socially engaged art. Strongly comparable to URBAN-15's mission-driven performing arts and community integration approach.

Broad incumbents

• Young Audiences: National arts-in-education nonprofit network delivering programming to millions of students. Overlaps with URBAN-15's youth arts education model but operates at significantly larger national scale.
• Steppenwolf Theatre Company: Major nonprofit performing arts institution producing theater, dance, and community programming. Comparable in nonprofit performing arts category but at substantially larger scale and with a national/international profile.

Others

• National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures (NALAC): National advocacy and grantmaking organization supporting Latino arts organizations. Connected to URBAN-15 as a peer institution within the same constituency and a likely funding/advocacy counterpart.

Emerging players

• La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club: NYC-based experimental performing arts nonprofit combining multimedia, dance, and culturally rooted performance. Shares URBAN-15's experimental, multicultural performance identity but operates in a major metro market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/urban15
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/TheUrban15Group
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-urban-15-group

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The URBAN-15 Group