Open Studio
Kick off five years of Future Front at our Community Studio at 1900 E 12th.
We’ll be open all day with a morning stretch, a curator’s tour of our latest exhibit and an intimate reception for this year's Artist Residency.
All are welcome. Scroll for more details.
The Schedule
11:00 AM ★ OPEN SOUNDS — The day begins with a guided stretch in the gallery, featuring a live set by DJ Cassandra.
Bring a yoga mat. Your experience will be seated. (Late arrivals cannot be seated after 11:15 AM.)
12:00 PM ★ CURATOR TOUR OF “OPEN CALL” — Join us in the gallery for a guided tour of our latest show “Open Call.”
open call (n.) — a public invitation to participate. Creative expression is often an open call for community and connection. Exploring the art of invitation, gathering and relating to the world, this exhibit features work by contemporary artists living and working in Austin, Texas. Each artist has participated in Future Front’s Artist Residency, which is annually curated from the organization’s Austin Artist Open Call.
1:00 PM ★ OPEN DECKS AND OPEN BAR — Hang around all afternoon to welcome another year of Future Front and celebrate Open Call with the show’s featured artists.
Expect flash tattoos from Slowpoke, a curated kolache menu from Thali Omakase and open bar from Tito’s Handmade Vodka and Topo Chico. BYOCrafts and drawings to work on!
If you want to hop on the open decks, there is no formal sign-up process. A Pioneer DJ XDJ-RX3 will be provided. Decks will be first-come, first-serve. DJs will rotate every 20 to 30 minutes, so you won't wait long.
HOW TO ATTEND
Entry for the Open Sounds and Curator Tour sessions are a recommended $10 minimum donation. The afternoon reception is free and open to the public.
If you’re a Future Front member, all sessions are free for you and your guests.
REGISTER BELOW:
*If you are a Future Front member, please provide your name at the door for entry or head to members.futurefronttexas.org or futurefrontmembership.squarespace.com to access member rates for event tickets, applications & other perks at anytime.
THE LINEUP
Guest DJ
DJ CASSANDRA
DJ Cassandra (she/her) is a classical and jazz trained pianist turned award-winning DJ, composer, and producer, blending her London and Texas roots into a genre-fluid sound. She’s performed at major festivals like Austin City Limits, opened for artists like Willie Nelson and Portugal The Man, and curated soundscapes for global brands such as Gucci, Kendra Scott, and Formula 1. As a pioneer in Biomedical Music™, her therapeutic compositions have helped over 3 million patients worldwide regain mobility through music-powered rehab. Whether behind the decks, scoring films, or mentoring future musicians, Cassandra uses sound not just to entertain—but to heal, connect, and lead.
Guest Facilitator, Open Form Yoga
JASMINE MOBASSERI
Jasmine Mobasseri (she/her) is a yoga teacher and the owner of Open Form Yoga, a neighborhood wellbeing studio in East Austin. She’s been teaching various movement and wellness practices since 2013. Her work is inspired by a wish to help people feel seen, supported, and genuinely taken care of. Across all modalities, her guiding intention is to help people connect more deeply with themselves. Open Form grew from that same intention — a place to move without pressure, rest without guilt, and meet yourself where you are, trusting that showing up with compassion and curiosity is enough. Jasmine’s approach offers guidance without rigidity, leaving room for ease, joy, and the in-betweens along the way.
Guest Chef, Thali Omakase Pop-Up
DEEPA SHRIDHAR
Deepa Shridhar (she/her) is a chef, writer, podcaster and TV & Digital personality residing in Austin. Shridhar has started her professional cooking career working at some of the best restaurants in Texas, including her own award winning food trailer, Puli-Ra, and supper club, specializing in South Indian Texan cuisine, her own brand of Third Culture Cuisine.
She is the founder of Thali Omakase; a private monthly dinner experience with a completely custom menu, complimentary beverage program and playlist.
Currently, Shridhar collaborates on supper clubs and pop ups with like minded businesses across the country that include award winning restaurants and food businesses alike. She’s a contributing writer for Serious Eats and has been featured in many national publications along with multiple appearances on the Food Network including Chopped, as a runner up.
Chef Deepa has a substack under the moniker: Sicc Palette. Sicc Palette is a digital platform that houses her podcast, newsletter and a variety of video content that focuses on personal narratives, the definitions of fine dining, immigrant, third culture cuisine and recipes flavored by her South Indian Texan perspective.
Photo by Nitya Jain
PREPARE YOUR VISIT TO FUTURE FRONT
Future Front’s Community Studio is located at 1900 E. 12th Street.
WHERE TO PARK: We have a large paid parking lot across the street and is directly accessible by bus line. There’s also free parking up and down the street and in surrounding neighborhoods. Carpool, if you can! Find direct parking instructions and details here.
WHAT TO DO: Our studio is located within East Austin’s historic African-American Cultural Heritage District, which is home to many other creative spaces and businesses, as well as organizations like Six Square, the What Once Was Heritage Center at Rosewood Courts and Austin’s first HBCU and higher learning institution Huston-Tillotson University.
★ Trona — bar — 1812 E 12th
★ Little Nishi in King Bee — sushi — 1906 E 12th
★ Nixta Taqueria — restaurant — 2512 E 12th
★ Comadre Panaderia — bakery — 1204 Cedar Ave
★ Keep Looking Shop — bookshop — 1614 E 12th
★ community garden — café bar — 1401 Cedar Ave
★ The Plant Society — plant shop — 1912 E 12th
★ Lynny’s Diner — café bar — 1914 E 12th
★ The Little Gay Shop — boutique — 1902 E 12th
★ Sam’s BBQ — restaurant — 2000 E 12th
★ Austin Daiquiri Factory — bar — 2000 E 12th
★ El Tigre Coffee Shop — coffee bar — 1614 E. 12th
★ Origin Studio House — hospitality group — 2925 E. 12th
★ Open Form — yoga studio — 2900 E 12th
For more information on the history of our district, book a tour with Black Austin Tours.
AVAILABLE LANGUAGES — ASL interpreters can be provided upon request. Si necesita traducción al español para participar en este evento, envíenos un correo electrónico a hello@futurefronttexas.org.
OUR COMMUNITY SAFETY GUIDELINES —
All Future Front staff, volunteers and guests will be required to practice mutual respect, as well as demonstrate an alignment with Future Front’s code of conduct and values: futurefronttexas.org/values.
Capacity is limited to reduce crowding of any kind and all events will be held in primarily outdoor and open-air spaces or have access to proper ventilations and well-maintained A/C systems.
At Future Front events, all guests are expected to follow Austin-local health and safety guidelines for gatherings, as well as practice consideration with the consumption of tobacco, alcohol and any other legal, mind-altering or dangerous substances and objects. This includes:
Discouraged use of tobacco products on the property of nearby businesses and residences, to improve air quality, throughout our events.
Tobacco use and electronic smoking device use are not permitted at any time within Future Front properties and event spaces at least 15 ft from entrances, exits, operational windows, or ventilation system intake vents.
Littering of tobacco-related products on the grounds or parking lots is also prohibited.
Concealed or open weapons and firearms (including handguns) are not allowed at any Future Front venues.
GOT QUESTIONS? Shoot us a note at hello@futurefronttexas.org. We're happy to help and will get back to you!
ABOUT FUTURE FRONT
Homegrown in Austin, Future Front is an award-winning cultural space and public exhibition series—with women and LGBTQ+ creatives at the front.
As a 501c3 arts and culture nonprofit, we produce two annual community-led exhibitions, The Front Market and The Front Festival, platforming independent artists and creatives across disciplines in Texas. Beyond our flagship exhibitions, we host seasonal shows and workshops at our creative space in East Austin, welcoming 20,000+ visitors per year.
Through these programs and a diverse network of partnerships, we invite the public (including you) to dream of a future where local art and creativity thrive in Texas—where we see ourselves and our cultures reflected in our communities.
FUTURE FRONT IS SUPPORTED IN PART BY The City of Austin Economic Development Department, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Texas Commission on the Arts, The LINE Hotel Austin, Pease Park Conservancy, the Red River Cultural District, Downtown Austin Alliance Foundation, Topo Chico, as well as Future Front’s donors and members.