by José Luis Mendoza Aubert

I've been part of the artistic community in San Miguel de Allende for over 25 years—that's about a third of my journey in this fabulous ride we call life. I've always been connected, in one way or another, to the arts—especially the performing arts in our town—managing, directing, practicing, and teaching many generations of children and teens who are now active members of our community. I'm deeply proud of whom they've become as people, and of the invaluable contributions they now make to our society.

Yesterday, I sat down in the Jardín —something I used to do all the time, but that I've unfortunately put off for many reasons. I didn't last long. The awful cacophony of two mariachi bands blasting their furious tunes less than five meters apart was just too much. That dissonance violently shook my inner peace and sent my mind traveling back to the San Miguelito I first fell in love with... and also made me run off in search of quieter ground.

I remember when I first discovered San Miguel, back around 1971. I instantly fell for this magical place—musicians playing in the streets, painters capturing the charm of every hidden alley and corner, acrobats, mimes, puppet shows popping up spontaneously, poets sharing verses in cafés and bars, art exhibits (real, vibrant, daring, and innovative art—not just tourist trinkets). Sundays were magical with the famous garden “circles,” where boys walked in one direction and girls in the other. People from nearby communities would enjoy a little cone of ice cream while listening to someone sing with a guitar, or laugh along with the clever antics of a street mime or clown (laughter sparked by talent and wit, not by dirty jokes or cheap mockery).

Yesterday, I asked myself: what happened to the little town that used to overflow with raw, authentic expressions of art and culture? Where are all those amazing and diverse musicians who used to appear around every corner? What about the street performers, the poets, the painters sharing their joy and work with everyone? Where did all that vibrant culture go? How essential is art to building a healthy, non-violent community?

So once again, I'll try to gather my thoughts on art, culture, the individual, and society—to share with you both what I've learned and what I deeply feel…

The arts, in all their forms, are living expressions of the human soul. Through music, theater, dance, poetry, painting, or any other artistic medium, we get the chance to connect with the deepest parts of ourselves—with the intangible, with what words alone often can't express. Performing arts in particular—because they are collective and lived experiences—awaken a sensitivity in us that lifts us above the gray automatic rhythm of daily life and gives us tools to process deep emotions, difficult topics, and even express protest and resistance.

Art has the power to heal, to comfort, to challenge us, and also to give us hope. In times of crisis or uncertainty, it's art that has carried humanity forward. Creating and interpreting allows us to imagine other, better worlds—more just, more kind, more human. That's why we say art uplifts the spirit: because it brings us back to our ability to feel deeply, to dream, to create beauty even in the midst of chaos and violence—or to speak out when no one else dares.

But art doesn't just change the individual. Socially, it builds bridges, it brings people together. Performing arts—by requiring presence and interaction—nurture dialogue, listening, teamwork, and empathy. When a community creates art together—be it in a theater workshop, a dance group, a street parade like “Los Locos,” or a kids' music band—it strengthens its collective identity, rebuilds bonds of solidarity, and sparks a sense of belonging.

In this way, art isn't a luxury or decoration—it's a vital part of the social fabric. A community without art is more vulnerable to violence, isolation, or indifference. But where art thrives, civic participation also blooms, as does inter-generational dialogue, cultural exchange, and appreciation for diversity.

Public and urban art plays a crucial role: it democratizes access to beauty and ideas. When a city invests in murals, community sculptures, street festivals, or open-air concerts, it sends a clear message: This belongs to everyone. This is for everyone. Art in public spaces can heal areas marked by inequality or abandonment, turning gray walls into canvases for expression, pride, resistance, and identity.

Community-based art also helps raise more conscious and compassionate citizens. Early exposure to artistic education builds focus, discipline, emotional intelligence, critical thinking, and empathy. A child who learns to play an instrument or act on stage doesn't just learn technique—they learn how to express themselves, to collaborate, to listen, to trust their own voice.

For all these reasons, supporting the arts in our communities isn't just a matter of cultural development—it's human development. Art, as a universal language, can build bridges where there are walls, spark light where there is darkness, and plant seeds of hope where it's been lost.

Building a more just, peaceful, and empathetic society means recognizing that art is a right, a vital need, and a powerful tool for deep transformation. Because where there is art, there is life. Where there is art, there is community. And where community unites through art, a future full of possibility begins to bloom.

For all of the above reasons, I find it deeply contradictory that, on the one hand, the municipal authorities of San Miguel de Allende boast to the world that this city is a cultural landmark in Mexico and the world—even comparing it to highly cultural and avant-garde European cities—while, on the other hand, they prohibit and limit artistic expression in the very heart of the city: the first square and the Jardín. This restrictive policy not only ignores the living history of San Miguel, but also responds to interests alien to the common well-being of its artistic and civic community.

San Miguel de Allende was, is, and must continue to be a hotbed of creativity, sensitivity, and encounter. We cannot allow the flame of authentic art, of the free and shared art that gave meaning, soul, and magic to this city, to be extinguished.

Therefore, we make a firm, respectful, but urgent call to the municipal authorities: let us reopen public spaces to the artists of San Miguel. Let us truly and consistently support those who make art their path, their vocation, and their way of contributing to a more free, peaceful, inclusive, and, in short, more humane society. Let us allow musicians, actors, poets, dancers, mimes, puppeteers, storytellers, and other creators to fill our squares, gardens, and streets with life once again.

It's not about tolerating art, but about promoting it. It's not about controlling it, but about celebrating it. Because only in this way, with living and accessible art, will we build a more united, happier, more peaceful community, deeply proud of its identity.

To this end:

Spread the word!

This April 29th:
5:30 pm Everyone in Civic Plaza
5:45 pm We all go to the Garden
6:00/6:15 pm We begin with the intervention of the space around the Garden.
6:40 pm End of improvisations, performance to head to the Parish steps.
7:00 pm Closing at the Parish steps, photography and video taking

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• Respect first:
Every form of expression is valid. Listen, observe, and respect the times and processes of others.

• We take care of the space:
We are in a public and shared space. Let's be responsible for the environment, let's not leave trash, and let's treat the garden as part of our work.

• Peaceful collective:
This is a manifestation of art, not confrontation. Our language is the body, the voice, the presence, and beauty.

• We look out for each other:
If you see something that puts someone's safety or the event at risk, come forward, support them, or seek support. No one is left alone.

• We are one in diversity:
This action has no protagonists. Everyone contributes from their art, and every voice counts. Let's collaborate, improvise, and listen.

• Presence with intention:
We are here to celebrate, raise awareness, and strengthen. Let's connect with the reason that unites us: art as a living, communal force.

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Everything will be organic and without electricity:
We will not have lights or amplified sound. The music will be acoustic, the body will be the microphone, the voice will resonate, and the space will be our stage.

If you are a visual artist, you can bring your canvas, easel, or notebook to create in the moment.

This is a living, simple, and powerful action, based on what we have on hand.

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Bring banners with a message: You can bring signs with phrases that speak to art, culture, community, or that promote your artistic work. Let our words also speak, inspire, and communicate with respect and creativity.

These will be used during our walk from Civic Plaza to the Jardín.

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Intervention with respect:

Let's avoid graffiti, pasting objects, or altering the Jardín furniture. Let's take care of the space and the people who accompany us.

Our act is symbolic, sensitive, and collective.

What we do today can open up more possibilities tomorrow.

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José Luis Mendoza Aubert: actor, director and theater technician; teacher and writer of Theater and Plastic Arts; founder and director of the Comedia del Universo theater company and school, operating in San Miguel for the last 20 years; musicologist and cinephile, judge of the En Corto Film Festival now GIFF for 8 years; Director of Art and Culture of the Public Library for 15 years; member of the board of directors of El Sindicato Centro Cultural Comunitario.

José Luis gives talks and workshops on environmental awareness in schools and communities. He is a founding member of the Allende la Cultura Collective. He plays Veracruz music and writes poetry and is a founding member of the music group "Fusión Colonche 432."

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