Ryan Salinas

RYan salinas

work sample 1

For doccumentation of ongoing creative work in Austin, we are submitting documentation of "BRILLO! Glow Gardens for Frida and Friends," an immersive installation co-directed by Ryan Salinas at the ESB-MACC during SXSW’s "MACCnifico" event on March 17, 2022.

This project, blending bilingual storytelling, lighting design, and community engagement, was created in collaboration with six unhoused artists, three of whom have since transitioned into stable housing. The installation highlighted Frida Kahlo’s legacy while demonstrating the transformative power of the arts in fostering cultural expression, advocacy, and social impact.

Ryan Salinas has consistently contributed to Austin’s creative landscape through his Chicano/Latino-centered artistic leadership, bilingual programming, and accessibility-focused event production, ensuring that historically underrepresented communities remain at the heart of Austin’s cultural identity.

work sample 2

For the second work sample, we are submitting documentation of the 2019 performance of Compañía Sunny Savoy from Monterrey, México, titled "En Vivo Desde México" (Live from Mexico).

This performance, Los Años, was a compelling exploration of memory, identity, and cultural storytelling through contemporary dance by the award-winning Compañía Sunny Savoy.

Choreography: Sunny Savoy
Performed by: Daniel Luis, Guillermo Treviño, Héctor Méndez, Lissette Pérez, Gloria Ortiz
Music by: Ernesto Pérez García & Alfredo Pérez Savoy
Curation, Production & Lighting Design: Ryan Salinas

Ryan Salinas played a key role in curating, producing, and designing the lighting for this internationally recognized performance, ensuring that Mexican contemporary dance was showcased in an accessible, bilingual space. His work extends beyond dance, having curated visual art exhibitions at Santa Cruz Theater and organized performances featuring Latinx artists at the ESB-Mexican American Cultural Center. Through these multidisciplinary efforts, he has helped create a bridge between Latin American artists and Austin’s performing arts scene, reinforcing the city’s role as a hub for international artistic exchange, cultural preservation, and diverse creative expression.

work sample 3

For this optional work sample, we are submitting a collection of fliers produced by Ryan Salinas for events hosted at 1807 E 7th St, Austin, TX 78702, from February 2018 through 2022, a location within a Qualified Census Tract (QCT) before his theater was displaced due to East Austin gentrification.

As the Founder & Artistic Director, Ryan curated and produced multidisciplinary arts events featuring Chicano, Mexican-American, immigrant, and historically marginalized artists, ensuring that cultural representation remained strong in rapidly changing East Austin. These events included bilingual performances, live music showcases, Latinx visual arts exhibitions, and immersive theater experiences—all aimed at fostering community engagement and cultural preservation within Austin’s underrepresented creative communities.

This documentation demonstrates Ryan’s long-standing commitment to serving artists and audiences in QCTs, ensuring accessibility and visibility for those most impacted by urban displacement. Despite the loss of this venue, Ryan remains a leading advocate for Latinx, bilingual, and disability-inclusive arts programming in Austin, continuing to organize and host events that prioritize equity, representation, and community resilience.

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Spanish-Language & Accessibility Services in Performance Curation

For this work sample, we are submitting documentation of our expanded ADA services and Spanish-language accessibility efforts across multiple performances curated and produced by Ryan Salinas in Austin, TX. These include bilingual materials, mixed-ability performance design, and real-time accessibility accommodations to ensure full participation for both performers and audience members.

1. Bilingual Brochures & Accessibility Materials (Compañía Sunny Savoy, Oct 21-24, 2019, ESB-MACC)

For the 2019 performances of Compañía Sunny Savoy’s "En Vivo Desde México" (Live from Mexico) at the ESB-Mexican American Cultural Center, we provided:

Bilingual brochures in English & Spanish, printed in large print for accessibility and distributed in person & online.
Class information & a public call for dancers, ensuring broad community engagement.
Company descriptions & performance context to make the show accessible to Spanish-speaking & bilingual attendees.

2. Mixed-Ability Performance & Real-Time Accessibility (Zilker Hillside Theater, Amy Litzinger Performance)

Ryan Salinas also co-curated a performance by mixed-ability art activist & certified DanceAbility teacher, Amy Litzinger, at the Zilker Hillside Theater. This production featured:

Stage & lighting design by Ryan Salinas, ensuring accessibility for performers with disabilities.
A blind dancer positioned backstage for improved auditory spatial awareness.
A real-time verbal translator describing the entire 90-minute show for visually impaired attendees.

3. Multilingual & Inclusive Performance Curation Across Venues

Ryan Salinas has an extensive history of producing bilingual, Spanish-language, and mixed-ability performances across Austin, including:

Visual arts curation at Santa Cruz Theater & performances featuring Latinx artists at the ESB-MACC.
Four years of collaboration with unhoused artists, refugees, and immigrant performers, ensuring diverse representation in the arts.
Curating performances attended by blind, audio-impaired, and disabled artists, including shows at Zilker Hillside Theater, ESB-MACC, & Dougherty Arts Center.

Through these efforts, Ryan Salinas prioritizes accessibility, Spanish-language inclusion, and equitable arts representation, ensuring that Austin’s performing arts spaces remain inclusive for all.

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