Who We Are
Founded in 2019, Daphne Art Foundation is a 501c(3) nonprofit arts organization based in the South Texas United States-Mexico border in Laredo that focuses on improving the quality of life through transformative cultural experiences.
We are artists, educators, administrators, stewards, advocates, writers, creatives, activists.
Our Mission
Our mission is to support and promote the creation, presentation, study, and appreciation of the visual, performing, and media arts in the border community of Laredo by partnering with regional, national, and international artists and organizations.
Our Vision
Our vision is a vibrant South Texas region where the arts inspire unbounded transformations on individual and social levels.
Our Home
Located in the south Texas county of Webb on the United States-Mexico border, Laredo, Texas is beautiful, rich in history, complex, and full of contradictions (this allows our work to thrive!). Out of the 15 largest metro areas in the State of Texas, Laredo ranks last in the amount of local sales tax generated by the arts and culture industry, according to the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts.
At Daphne Art Foundation, we are committed to make the arts more accessible and expand our community’s awareness about visual, performing, and media arts. Laredo not only inspires our work, it serves as a canvas for creative perspectives to shape a better, more colorful future.
Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Daphne Art Foundation has a strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. As an organization, we acknowledge the complexities that result from advantages certain groups have over others. We challenge ourselves to constantly grow in awareness and develop and implement practices that advance equity in the arts.
Our Team
Alyssa Cigarroa, Founder and Board President
Linda LaMantia, Board Vice-President
Mary Lamar Leyendecker, Board Secretary
Francisco Javier Garcia, Board Member
Keith Franklin, Board Member
Regina Portillo, Board Member
Maritza Bautista, Executive Director
Jacqueline Hinojosa, Accounting