The Front Festival 2025: The Official Recap
This year’s Texas-local lineup featured 35 different musical acts and films, all from independent artists, musicians and filmmakers shaping Austin and Central Texas beyond. Each night converged to present a future-forward lineup that ultimately brought 900 guests together across generations.
Over Labor Day Weekend 2025, The Front Festival took over iconic Austin venues—including The LINE Hotel Austin, The Contemporary Austin—Laguna Gloria and Antone’s Nightclub—for four days of independent music and film.
This year’s Texas-local lineup featured 32 different musical acts and films, all from women and LGBTQ+ artists, musicians and filmmakers shaping Austin and Central Texas beyond.
We welcomed musical performances from talent like rising contemporary cumbia artist Vanita Leo (San Antonio) and conjunto fiddle keeper Belen Escobedo (Austin), as well as independent short films from emerging Central Texas filmmakers like IN TOW (Austin) and Behind The Strings: Amplifying Black Feminism in Guitar Culture (Dallas).
Across all four days, the through-line theme for this year’s festival was an experimental blend of contemporary and classic lenses on Texas culture.
Each night converged to present a future-forward lineup that ultimately brought 900 guests together across generations.
Keep reading for a full look at this year’s impact.
All photos by Jinni J and Yvonne Uwah
thE FRONT FESTIVAL 2025 highlights:
★ No. 1 — 32 INDEPENDENT TEXAS Artists Exhibited
Meet every musician, filmmaker and artist in The Front Festival’s 2025 Lineup here.
★ No. 2 — 900+ Visitors Welcomed
Across Central Texas (and nationwide), friends and family traveled in for a sweet weekend in our Austin hometown. The festival was profiled in Tribeza, CultureMap, Fox7 Austin, CBS Austin and so many more.
Big shouts to Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Antone’s Nightclub, The LINE Hotel Austin, The Contemporary Austin — Laguna Gloria, the City of Austin’s Economic Development Department, We All Belong: Austin Against Hate, the Red River Cultural District, Downtown Austin Alliance Foundation, as well as Future Front’s donors and members, for making it all possible.
★ No. 3 — $6000+ Fundraised
Every year, a portion of all ticket sales support Future Front’s programs, which have distributed $1M in creative commissions and honorariums in Texas since 2015.
Thanks to donations at the door and our Cocktails For Good Bar by Tito’s Handmade Vodka, we fundraised $6000+.
(This year, all proceeds directly benefit our recent loss of federal funding. Thank you!)
★ No. 4 — $10,000 In Commissions & Contracts
The festival’s programming generated more than $10,000+ in commissions and contracts for the festival’s participating artists and creative production teams.
★ No. 5 — 100% Community-Led
It took four team members, 48 volunteers and curators, 75+ collaborators and one year of planning to open The Front Festival 2025.
THREE WAYS TO STAY INVOLVED:
★ Head to thefrontfest.com to keep tabs on next year’s festival (Labor Day Weekend 2026).
Learn more about why the festival exists here.
Want to be a participating artist in next year’s festival? Read about our Artist Open Call here.
★ Remember why spaces like The Front Festival matter.
The Front Festival is an end-of-summer community festival, featuring independent music, film and art in Austin, Texas. Curated by Future Front, we put Texas women and LGBTQ+ artists at the front of our lineups.
We believe in the power of a good show, nurturing local talent and contemporary Texan storytelling.
Everybody welcome.
★ Explore all we do at Future Front—and find what’s for you—at futurefronttexas.org/programming.
Apply to a program, like our upcoming Fall Season of The Front Market.
Attend upcoming events at the Future Front House and around Austin.
Visit The Future Front House, open on Fridays and during select events for gallery viewings.
Become a member and get complimentary access to all our events and weekly office hours.
Become a volunteer and help us put on more events like this!
Thank you to our sponsors, donors, members and friends.
★
Thank you to our sponsors, donors, members and friends. ★
We would not be able to nurture creative communitY IN TEXAS without support from our sponsors, members, staff, volunteers, friends and you. Thank you.
Want to stay involved with Future Front?
Keep up with what we’re up to—from virtual events to membership—here.
To learn more about The Front Festival, head to thefrontfest.com.
On Spilled Fruit: A Guest Exhibit By Chance Weick
In July 2025, Future Front hosted Spilled Fruit, a curated selection of portraits and multidisciplinary works by LGBTQIA+ artists in or from Texas.
In July 2025, Future Front hosted Spilled Fruit, a curated selection of portraits and multidisciplinary works by LGBTQIA+ artists in or from Texas.
Continue reading to learn more about the exhibit.
★ about the show, Spilled fruit
Spilled Fruit brings together artists exploring themes of body, memory, survival and joy through radically personal practices that spill across medium and genre.
In a region where queer visibility often demands courage, Spilled Fruit offers a space of abundance and resistance, inviting audiences to witness Texas-based queerness in all its lush complexity. Together, the works reflect a bold reclamation: “Fruit that spills is not wasted—it is bold, vibrant, uncontained and there for nourishment.”
★ PARTICIPATING ARTISTS INCLUDED:
JEFFREY JIN
Jeffrey Jin is a queer, Chinese American photographer born and raised in the suburbs of Houston within the confines of a pious Chinese church community. Since taking their first Are You Gay? quiz at age twelve, religious faith has been supplanted with a devout interest in both analog and digital photography as tools to strengthen identity and preserve what’s most familiar: their family and queer friends of color. In doing so, their work unveils narratives surrounding upbringing, corporeality, and a deep affection for the physical and virtual landscapes they inhabit—from Texas' winding roads to the Internet’s deep caverns.
Their images have been featured in publications including Dazed, Far-NEAR, and Nowness, and have been exhibited across Houston, New York City, and Shanghai. They are an alumnus of the Eddie Adams Workshop, a member of Diversify Photo, and hold a degree in Asian American Studies and Sociology from the University of Texas at Austin. They are based between New York City and Texas.
SCOTT MABE
Scott Mabe's work exists somewhere between the analog and the digital, the landscape and the figure. It is this space, the in between, where he finds a point of view that is ultimately queer.
Born in Texas on a dairy farm to a Baptist preacher and a schoolteacher, the youngest of six children, Scott began taking photographs of the rural landscape and the people who inhabited it at a young age using disposable Kodak cameras. After studying Photography and Art History at the University of North Texas, Scott moved to New York City where he has honed his skills in digital photo manipulation. This has led to his current body of work, which bastardizes the rural landscape of his childhood, documented in analog, with found digital erotic images. Scott is also heavily (and happily) influenced by the horror and weird fiction genre, as well as heavy metal music.
SETH PRESTWOOD
Seth Prestwood was born and raised in lower Alabama and at eighteen moved to Nashville, TN to attend Watkins College of Art, Design & Film, where he graduated with a BA in Fine Art with an emphasis in sculpture. For the last fifteen years he has worked for several studios (as well as his own) producing murals, logos, sculptures, sets and faux finishes. In his personal work he weaves images and symbols collected from travels, lovers and nature with scenes from his past, creating dreamscapes for his characters while leaving enough anonymity for the viewer to form their own narrative. Themes in his work are loss, longing, resilience and the tensions between his Southern Baptist upbringing and navigation of where he belongs in the queer community. Consistent in his practice are painting, printmaking, sculpture, writing, drawing, and photography.
Steven Foley
Steven Foley, based in Athens GA but raised in Taylor TX, works as a professor of linguistics at the University of Georgia. A lifelong artist, he is especially passionate about collage as a medium of texture, fate, and recontextualization.
CHANCE WEICK
Chance Weick was born in Dallas, Texas and has resided in Austin, Texas for 8 years. He studied photography at the University of Alabama. He currently works for Texas Student Media at the University of Texas at Austin which publishes The Daily Texan and multiple print and digital publications produced by students. He is a big advocate for freedom of speech.
Much of his work is centered around portraits and highlighting vulnerabilities that make us human.
TONY KRASH
Tony Krash is a photographer, videographer, and conceptual visual artist born and raised in Oak Cliff, Dallas, TX who currently resides in Austin, TX. Inspired by documentary photography and the juxtaposition of traditional and contemporary Latinx culture, Tony has been professionally practicing since 2017. He documents people with whom he forms relationships and who are part of his brown and queer community. His photographic approach typically involves portraiture and still life, using objects to evoke queerness, sensuality, confidence, nostalgia, and a hint of darkness. His work often carries a political undertone, aiming to establish a history of full representation in the South. As a queer Brown creative, his interests span emo and Hispanic cultures, evoking unapologetic queerness.
STEPHANIE GONZALEZ
Born in Monterrey, Mexico, in 1988, Stephanie Gonzalez's art journey is a fusion of Mexican and American influences. Inspired by her grandfather's admiration for Bob Ross, she began creating at 14. Stephanie's work evolved from landscapes to powerful abstractions, where she embraced intuition over technique. Stephanie draws from her experiences as a lesbian Mexican woman, channeling her emotions into mixed media works using vintage magazines and discarded materials. After earning a Bachelor's in Interior Design from the Art Institute of Houston, she pursued a Master's in Fine Art, broadening her scope to sculpture and conceptual art. Stephanie's art now graces international collections, including prestigious venues like Starwood Hotels and the CICA Museum in South Korea. Stephanie's work has been shown in museums such as The Masur Museum of Art in Louisiana and the Holocaust Museum in Houston, and she shows her work in various galleries around the U.S. She has received awards from the Glassell School of Art, Brownsville Museum of Fine Art, and Rising Eyes of Texas.
Her recent work explores geometric landscapes, delving into the spiritual and the interconnected. Stephanie Gonzalez's art continues to captivate and evolve, leaving an indelible mark on contemporary art.
JET TREVINO
Jet Treviño’s body of work reflects a self-taught journey, shaped by raw exploration and relentless practice. Bursting onto the Austin scene in 2012, his natural talent and vision carved out a space in the Austin art world, helping shape the vibrant, rebellious creative culture the city is known for today. His canvas spilled beyond studio walls, pouring onto the streets—quite literally—alongside a community of artists he grew up with, learned from, and inspired in return.
With a sharp eye for haunting portraiture and arresting surrealist imagery, Jet’s work commands attention, pulling viewers into a space where reality fractures and reshapes. His art doesn’t just invite contemplation; it stops you cold, forcing you to reconsider your own reality—and your place within it.
★ explore the visual recap.
DID YOU MISS the spilled fruit opening?
Keep up with what we’re up to at Future Front—from events to membership—here.
The Return Of Y’all Dinner
Austin-based chef Deepa Shridhar and Future Front Executive Director Jane Hervey host their second-annual supper club and community fundraiser.
For three nights only, we transformed FUTURE FRONT into a pop-up restaurant for our fourth birthday fundraiser.
The menu included everything from fermented tomato martinis (thanks, Tito’s Handmade Vodka and Topo Chico!) to carrot mac & cheese kolache and Texas peach icebox cake. Hand-selected by the annual dinner’s hosts, chef Deepa Shridhar and Future Front Executive Director Jane Hervey, each dish was curated with coastal blends of Texas BBQ, South Indian flavors and Lone Star heritage in mind.
As always, all proceeds from Y’ALL DINNER supported the evenings’ talent, as well as Future Front’s free public arts and culture programs.
bask in the VISUAL recap.
PHOTOS BY YVONNE UWAH
MEET THE DINNER’S ANNUAL HOSTS.
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
Jane Hervey (she/her) is a community and brand development director, award-winning curator, creative producer and accidental nonprofit founder. Over the last decade, she has led teams and programs for 25+ creative companies and start-ups, arts and entertainment organizations and public spaces across the US. Designing thoughtfully curated experiences, brand identities and storytelling projects, her client list reflects independent creatives and nonprofits, cities and local government, as well as lifestyle and tech brands like The LINE Hotel, Bumble and Waymo.
Currently, she directs Future Front, a 501c3 cultural space she founded in 2021, alongside her own consultancy, group work. Through these projects, her community-designed festivals and fairs have distributed more than $1M in commissions and support to Texas-based independent artists, musicians, filmmakers, craftspeople, curators, cultural workers and multidisciplinary creatives since 2015. This pioneering work in public and private programming, creative direction and brand strategy has been recognized for its undeniable impact on Texas culture—from the underground to public parks—by ADWEEK, Texas Monthly, The National Endowment for the Arts and the City of Austin’s Women’s Hall of Fame. As a keynote speaker and curator for organizations like SXSW, Austin FC, Fusebox Festival, The Contemporary Austin Museum and Soho House, Jane has become a known advocate for stronger Texan cities, cultural justice and community practices in creative leadership, too.
Jane has also composed records and music as an independent recording artist for global projects since 2012. Originally from the South Texas border, Hervey now lives and works in Austin, Texas. Learn more at janeclairehervey.com.
thank you to all who attended.
Y’ALL Dinner will be back in July 2026. Check back for details at futurefronttexas.org/comethrough.
PS — We are fundraising for our future. Find ways to support below:
This Year's Pride Picnic Polaroid Yearbook
For the second time, we brought back the picnic’s annual polaroid yearbook. In these 29 snaps, we hope to celebrate (and document) the presence of community joy in Texas for future generations.
On Saturday, June 28, we partnered with Pease Park for its fourth-annual Pride Picnic—a day of abundant sunshine, community vibes and a delightfully queer celebration of the summer solstice.
For the second time, we brought back the picnic’s annual polaroid yearbook. In these 29 snaps, we hope to celebrate (and document) the presence of queer joy in Texas for future generations.
29 PRIDE PICNIC POLAROIDS:
did you miss pride picnic?
You can learn more about all of the LGBTQ+ artists, makers, creatives and organizations who joined us in 2025 here. For details on future Pride Picnics, stay tuned on Future Front’s calendar.
Meet Future Front's Resident Artists (2024/25)
In commemoration of Madly Involved and our Spring Season, we interviewed curator Mueni Loko Rudd, as well as artists Sacugar Edwards and Moses Leonardo, on the world-buildling creative rituals that define their practices.
Every year, Future Front produces an Annual Artist Residency, featuring DJs, sound artists and visual artists in Austin, Texas.
Collaborating year-round within our programs or with our partners—like The Contemporary Austin, The LINE Hotel Austin and Pease Park—our Resident Artists work with us to create everything from public workshop series to custom playlists to life-size installations.
Designed distinctively for emerging visual and sound artists with community practices in Central Texas, the program includes structured, year-long professional development from Future Front’s staff and partners, as well as group exhibitions within Future Front’s programs.
TODAY, WE’D LIKE YOU TO MEET 9 ARTISTS WITHIN OUR 2024/2025 RESIDENCY COHORTS.
meet the artists:
Child Appetite is the creative world of Iris Kwon, an Austin-based illustrator and painter whose tender, dreamlike narratives explore childhood, belonging, and emotional memory. With roots that trace across multiple countries, Iris reflects on the in-between spaces of growing up through her symbolic character “Child”—a misfit figure who journeys through whimsical landscapes and animal friendships, echoing the artist’s own search for comfort and place. Under this moniker, she builds stories that blend softness and sorrow, nostalgia and imagination, inviting others into a shared emotional space.
Q — What themes do you explore within your work and why?
The central theme of my work is coming of age—a continuous exploration of growth and transformation. Each painting features a recurring symbolic character named Child, representing both myself and the universal figure of anyone navigating the different phases of life.
The stories often unfold through whimsical environments and animal companions, creating a sense of dreamlike comfort that contrasts with the underlying, sometimes darker, emotional narratives tied to human connection and lived experiences.
Q — Where does community show up in your creative work? What does that mean to you?
Community quietly shapes my work as something I've long searched for through constant movement across countries. That sense of belonging and otherness weaves into my paintings through the symbolic Child figure—a reflection of myself and anyone navigating life’s in-between spaces.
Q — How do you get into a creative headspace? Give us a glimpse into the way you create.
My creative process often begins with sketching or jotting down keywords that capture memories from my childhood or significant life experiences that have shaped my thoughts and emotions. These words become the foundation for drawing characters that embody the central theme. Like a collage, I piece together these characters to form a cohesive composition and build the environment around them. From there, I transfer the sketches onto canvas, bringing the narrative to life.
Q — What advice do you have for other artists and creatives on making work right now?
One piece of advice I still struggle with is not comparing my work to others. In today’s world, where social media makes it so easy to see and be exposed to the work of others, it’s both incredibly inspiring and overwhelming. The downside is that constant exposure can lead to comparing yourself based on others’ attention and success. It’s easy to fall into the trap of doubting yourself because of digital validation. Though it’s difficult, I’ve found that liberating myself from the pressure of online popularity can be a lot more freeing, allowing me to truly connect with and feel my work without external distractions.
Q — What projects do you have coming up, and where can people keep up with your work?
I’m currently preparing for my solo exhibition at the Georgetown Art Center, which will open on April 25th. I’d love for you to stop by and say hi! I’m really excited to share my stories and artwork with everyone.
Wilted Nurture is the sculptural practice and persona of Christopher, an Austin-based ceramicist whose handbuilt works emerge from a place of deep emotion, heritage, and healing. Christopher’s journey into clay began during a time of personal difficulty, and over time, Wilted Nurture has become more than a creative outlet—it’s an embodiment of care, intention, and connection. Each piece, built using a self-taught method of slow crafting and hand-coiling on a manually spun wheel, carries a story shaped by intuition and rooted in ancestral memory.
Q — What themes do you explore within your work and why?
My art revolves around two themes: my mental health and the need to feel connected to my Mexican heritage. A lot of feeling goes into each piece—whether I’m feeling okay or not. It’s an outlet that allows me to share some of my deepest thoughts and struggles, which has helped me connect with many like-minded individuals.
As a Mexican-American, my experience with my Latin culture has often been one that lies in the middle. At times feeling disconnected from my ancestral roots, the line work and designs in my pieces are largely inspired by Aztec art. The designs are an homage and reminder of where I come from. Pottery is an indigenous and spiritual practice after all, and this process has helped me reconnect in different ways with those who came before me.
Q — How do you get into a creative headspace? Give us a glimpse into the way you create.
I’ve adopted a method that I call slow crafting. It’s equal parts working on my health and wellness by taking care of myself first, then lending myself to the art and feeding my spiritual hunger. Creating can take a lot out of someone, so prioritizing myself is the best thing I can do.
This usually includes daily walks, eating and sleeping enough, indulging in some of my favorite mindless activities, and—most importantly—creating at my own pace. I believe forcing things never works and often generates bad results. If I end up working on a piece for 30 minutes and I don’t want to do it anymore, then so be it. The following day will be there to get right back to it. In other words, I don’t force things. I do what feels right.
Q — What advice do you have for other artists and creatives on making work right now?
I think some of the best advice I’ve ever received is to never compare myself to others and to know my worth. I, just like most people, have been a victim of self-doubt, which has led to comparison—and truth be told, it’s a waste of time and stirs up unnecessary negative emotion.
Remaining true to yourself and understanding that your art is unique to you is far more important. All good things happen over time and success is not attained in a day. Understanding your worth is also so important—whether it’s compensation or what you feel your art deserves. Let it be known. Speak up. We spend so much time creating and being proud of what we make, so for it to be diminished or dismissed is a disservice to yourself and your practice.
Q — What projects do you have coming up, and where can people keep up with your work?
Stay up to date with me on Instagram: @WiltedNurture. I post all upcoming markets, showcasings, and events there. Until then—I’m likely slow crafting.
Emsbrynart is a self-employed jack of all trades, a self-proclaimed multidisciplinary artist who’s less interested in labels and more focused on creating the kinds of work they want to see in the world. With a background in fine arts and an early love for painting, their current creative practice spans everything from screen printing on secondhand clothing to painting, building, and collaborating with friends. Through their brand, Emsbrynart, they merge creativity and sustainability—thrifting and reimagining pre-loved garments with powerful, often personal, hand-printed designs. Whether printing at home or surrounded by fellow artists, they’re always chasing new ways to stay rooted in the artistic world around them.
Q — What themes do you explore within your work and why?
I almost exclusively create work around queerness, love, ephemera, and immigration. As a high schooler developing my artistic voice I always made work about the experiences I was having - my first relationships, realizing my queerness, losing family, etc.
I loved how easy it was to create work that explained myself, and how mind blowing it felt to me to create such a personal piece, that a stranger could look at, and see themselves within. I think it feels really affirming, and ego-shattering, to create such personal work about hard experiences in life, and see someone so effortless relate to that piece. It brings forth an obvious sense of community, but also really helps me remember that there is no single thing I have experienced uniquely. It makes me feel more alive amongst others, more cared for, more a part of this world.
Q — Where does community show up in your creative work? What does that mean to you?
Community shows up in my creative work monetarily more than anything else. That feels odd to admit, but on the other hand, it's something I'm really proud of. With my clothing brand I print an array of designs and slogans about immigration rights, the migration process, and my general thoughts on migration, and I donate 10% of each sale back into my communities.
I focus on different organizations that work to make migration safer, easier, and just generally doable. It's important to me to extend a loving hand to others while I am being so lovingly accepted creatively. Donating consistently within my practice has become integral to my work, and something I could never imagine not doing. I think of it this way: I have worked really hard to achieve my dream job, and I am experiencing a level of joy, comfort, and pride that many don't feel at my age, so I'm of the belief that I am being so cosmically taken care of, it's only sensible that I do what I can to sustainably care for others.
Q — How do you get into a creative headspace? Give us a glimpse into the way you create.
It definitely depends on what I'm creating—whether for business or pleasure—but I'll talk about my personal practice, as it's the more fun answer. Almost always, when I go to make a piece for myself, I only act when inspiration is hitting. That can come from scrolling social media, reflecting on photos of my friends, thinking about a big feeling I've been experiencing, etc., but I act almost immediately. I'm not a planner/sketcher artistically, so I always go straight to canvas.
Music is a must, a drink of sorts is a must, and I usually prefer to be hunched over in the worst way when I paint, sew, or draw. I like to be able to sprawl out on the floor, physically able to reach every part of my canvas as I work. I have a playlist for creating, and my current personal favorite song on that playlist would probably be "Scott Street" by Phoebe Bridgers.
Q — What advice do you have for other artists and creatives on making work right now?
The same advice my college professors gave me—keep a practice. Keep a sketchbook, write down every idea, just make something as often as you can. My college professors made me see creating as such a romantic thing, and I still think that's true. I think it's romantic to keep a sketchbook in your bag, pencils around, a full Notes App, and just make something often, keep the muscle movement alive and strong.
Q — What projects do you have coming up, and where can people keep up with your work?
I used New Year's Day as the start of routine website restocks with my brand, whereas before they were semi-chaotic. Coming up you'll be able to see my work listed on my website at the start of each month, and I'll be all around town during SXSW. You can keep your eyes on me on my Instagram—@emsbrynart—or on my website www.emsbrynart.com.
Supermcn4sty—aka Dante—is a DJ, producer, and event organizer based in Austin with a deep love for underground club music and a talent for making people move. Since 2017, they’ve spun everywhere from sweaty club nights to weddings and major festivals like Boiler Room and SXSW. But beyond the booth, Dante considers themselves a connector, creating spaces for queer BIPOC folks to feel free, seen, and fully themselves on the dance floor. Whether through a high-energy mix, a packed-out event, or a track that hits just right, Dante’s work is all about liberation, emotion, and sonic storytelling.
Q — What themes do you explore within your work and why?
Liberation. Nostalgia. Energy. I love blending sounds across eras and subcultures—house, techno, Northeastern club, global club, or something weird and left-field. There's also always a deep emotional current in my sets. Sometimes it’s joy and euphoria. Sometimes it’s a cathartic release. But at the core, I want people to feel something real.
Q — Where does community show up in your creative work? What does that mean to you?
Community is everything. The most powerful gigs I’ve played are the ones where I feel completely in sync with the crowd. It’s not just me DJing at people—it’s all of us creating something together in the moment. That connection is especially true in queer nightlife, where the dance floor becomes sacred. I also see community in how I collaborate: throwing parties, doing radio residencies, sharing knowledge. I wouldn’t be where I am without the folks who’ve supported me, and I try to give that energy back.
Q — How do you get into a creative headspace? Give us a glimpse into the way you create.
It really depends. Sometimes I need a walk to clear my head. Other times, I get inspired by watching live performances—especially Tiny Desk concerts, which I love. Then there are moments when I sit down with no plan at all and just start digging through tracks or experimenting with sounds until something clicks. The biggest thing I’ve learned is to make space for play. The best sets happen when I’m not overthinking—just feeling.
Q — What advice do you have for other artists and creatives on making work right now?
Don’t be afraid to take breaks and step back when you need to. There’s so much pressure to constantly produce, but creativity needs room to breathe. You’ll make your best work when you give yourself space to live, reflect, and grow.
Q — What projects do you have coming up, and where can people keep up with your work?
You can find all my upcoming event details on my Instagram or website http://djsupermcn4sty.com. I’m also part of a queer DJ collective called Indulge—we’re throwing our one-year anniversary party during SXSW! It’s happening on March 10 at Neon Grotto from 9 PM to 2 AM. Follow us at @indulge_tx to keep up with the collective and future events.
Rewon Shimray is an Austin-based painter who turns personal memory into visual meditation. Working primarily from childhood photographs, Rewon recontextualizes these intimate images through symbolism, iconography, and layered narratives that reflect broader social and systemic realities. Her work is tender, pointed, and unflinchingly honest—each series unfolding like a visual journal, tracing the complexities of identity, family, and inherited systems across time.
Q — What themes do you explore within your work and why?
Although I consider myself an autobiographical painter, my work is meant to tell the stories of not only myself and my family but also of anyone shaped by systemic forces. My art aims to be honest, confronting the realities that aren’t visually evident but are still so viscerally experienced. I seek to manifest these experiences and emotions into a form that demands attention, facilitates conversation, and stimulates deep reflection.
Q — Where does community show up in your creative work? What does that mean to you?
I make art for people to see people. My first solo exhibition in 2023 was all about being Asian in America. I used pictures of myself, but I wanted people to look into the face of that brown girl, adorned with markers of her story, and learn to look upon every brown face with more nuance, more curiosity about their context, and wonder about the backgrounds that would appear on their portraits. The first step to creating community is cultivating compassion. We need to see—and I mean really see—each other. My paintings are my way of trying to make people start to look.
Q — How do you get into a creative headspace? Give us a glimpse into the way you create.
I’m a person first, a painter second. My art flows from the everyday life I live and the thoughts I carry. When I begin to notice recurring themes in my conversations with friends or in my journal entries—almost like conversations with myself—that’s when images start to emerge. I can become deeply immersed in the themes of my work, building playlists and reading books that align with them. As I dive into that world, new ideas begin to bloom, and I’ll often spend a year and a half exploring those ideas before moving on to something else.
Q — What advice do you have for other artists and creatives on making work right now?
It can feel silly making our little drawings and paintings in the midst of so much political corruption and global suffering, but your compulsion to create means that your art wants to exist within all of this chaos. Your art is not irrelevant; your art is born from and exists in the context of everything going on. Let it exist.
Q — What projects do you have coming up, and where can people keep up with your work?
The best way to keep up with my work is on Instagram @artbyrewon. I’ll also be posting more long-form content about my art on my website rewonshimray.com, where you can subscribe to my posts.
My current body of work focuses on my religious upbringing, using my personal experiences and critiques of Western Christianity to analyze how conservative theology continues to limit tolerance of difference—and how that impacts both interpersonal relationships and larger socio-political issues. With this collection, I hope to spark dialogue between people with opposing ideologies.
Houston-born, Austin-based artist Luya, aka Hierba Malita, refuses to be put in a box. She’s a visual artist, DJ, event producer and founder of the creative collective FLWRPOT.CO—a community rooted in collaboration, experimentation, and shared growth. Whether she’s spinning at a party or sketching in her notebook, her creative practice is about resonance: expressing what can’t always be said, and reminding people they’re not alone in what they feel.
Q — What themes do you explore within your work and why?
Resonance. It’s a word I love so much that I named one of my favorite radio shows after it. My work is about feeling things for what they are, and expressing gratitude for the journey that comes with it. Whether through sound or visuals, I hope my art makes someone feel a little less alone or lost.
To make art is to experience it, and to experience it is to be it. We’re all a lot more alike than we think, and our journeys are more intertwined than we expect.
Q — Where does community show up in your creative work? What does that mean to you?
Community shows up any time I share my art with someone. I keep in mind that I’m not the only one going through life. That’s why I created FLWRPOT.CO—to build a space where creatives could bring their ideas to life through real support, mutual encouragement, and accountability. That community has helped me keep going
Q — How do you get into a creative headspace? Give us a glimpse into the way you create.
I find those nameless feelings that linger around my soul—and I lean into them. Then I free them onto a canvas, a DAW, an instrument, a journal—whatever medium I need. Letting those emotions out is the only way to be free from them.
I’ve learned to accept that those feelings are mine to own and release. They’re not a burden—they’re tools to create with.
Q — What advice do you have for other artists and creatives on making work right now?
Stop waiting for the right time.
Stop making excuses.
Stop feeling sorry for yourself.
You were gifted with a vision for a reason. If you really want it, make yourself ready. Grow. Be consistent. Be unafraid. Don’t stop. And one day, when you turn around and look back—you’ll see how far you’ve come.
Q — What projects do you have coming up, and where can people keep up with your work?
I love anytime people come out to my shows—those connections mean everything. I try to post about them on Instagram (@hierbamalita). You can also check out my work on hierbamalita.com.
I’m also releasing original music this year... and not on some DJ shit either. Huge shoutout to my bestie and producer Woot <3
Meet Liz Moskowitz, a photographer and filmmaker whose work gently invites us into moments of transformation—across landscapes, lives, and histories. With a deep commitment to compassionate storytelling, Liz uses her lens to make space for complex narratives around social justice, urban change, healing, and hope.
Q — What themes do you explore within your work and why?
I’m often drawn to stories that might otherwise go untold. Some topics I’ve explored include access to mental health services in rural areas, criminal justice reform, climate resilience, and the cultural consequences of urban development.
There’s a meditative quality to the way I document these themes—an open question behind the camera:
How can I visually examine challenges, joy, trauma, healing, grief, and hope with integrity?
In every project, I’m seeking to create work that is honest and respectful, while leaving space for curiosity and deeper understanding.
Q — Where does community show up in your creative work? What does that mean to you?
Community shows up at every step. The people I photograph, the issues I follow, the moments I witness—these all stem from a sense of shared experience, even across different places or perspectives.
Many of my projects look at a community undergoing some kind of shift: a highway expansion, a cultural displacement, a recovery process. The work becomes both a documentation and a time capsule. My hope is always to reflect those changes with care and offer the people involved a way to tell their side of the story.
When the work is exhibited, whether in a gallery or online, that concept of community expands to include the viewer. I want people to not only see the work but feel connected to it—like they’re part of the story, too.
Q — How do you get into a creative headspace? Give us a glimpse into the way you create.
Ideas come to me organically. It might be something I see while driving, a line in a book, or a news story that sparks deeper questions. I try not to force creativity—it really needs to feel like something I have to make.
Once a project takes root, I move slowly. I love the research, the one-on-one conversations, and even the more technical elements—scanning film, editing photos. Those tactile parts of the process help me stay grounded and connected to the work.
And when self-doubt creeps in (because it always does!), I remind myself: this work isn’t about me. I’m just a vessel for the story.
Q — What advice do you have for other artists and creatives on making work right now?
We all get stuck. That frozen creative state? I’ve been there. But the most important thing is to start—even if you don’t feel totally ready.
Believe in your ideas enough to bring them to life. If you don’t know how to begin, reach out. Ask questions. Connect with others. Learning happens in the doing, and in the sharing.
Q — What projects do you have coming up, and where can people keep up with your work?
Right now, I’m working on ways to further share my documentary photo series “A Path of Impermanence: life along a highway expansion”—a project centered around the I-35 expansion in Austin.
I’m also finishing up editing a short documentary I co-directed called Love is a Forcefield, which I hope will premiere at festivals in 2026.
There are a few new photo ideas percolating too, and I’m exploring new mediums in my practice. It’s been exciting to be in student mode again.
You can follow my work and upcoming updates on my website and Instagram.
Bright, bold, and community-rooted, Dana Brown is a vinyl DJ and the founder of Queer Vinyl Collective, a grassroots organization amplifying queer voices through music in Austin and beyond. Since diving into professional DJing just three years ago, Dana has grown QVC into a vibrant space for connection and visibility—especially for queer and trans women. Their sets are a playful, nostalgic blend of sound and soul, and their mission is all about reshaping who gets to feel seen behind the decks.
Q — What themes do you explore within your work and why?
I think the most recurring theme and focus of my work as a creative is about uplifting queer voices. There’s an unending body of fantastic queer artists that I am driven to highlight in my work as a DJ, and it’s a pleasure to find new ways and new talent to explore sonically. There’s always more we can do to shine a light on underrepresented groups, and even with the vast pool of talent to draw from, there’s a joy in seeking out lesser known artists and highlighting their work in what I do.
Q — Where does community show up in your creative work? What does that mean to you?
I run a community-driven organization which serves as a key element of what I do as a DJ and creative. So really, community is at the heart of what I do. Each DJ set I do is another chance to be out connecting and spreading the word about QVC as an organization and enhancing our depth as a safe space in the music community here. We are thrilled to host so many events that are focused on amplifying queer talent, and we collaborate with likeminded orgs and other grassroots community groups that share that excitement. Together we’re better!
Q — How do you get into a creative headspace? Give us a glimpse into the way you create.
To get into a creative headspace, I lean to those that inspire me in the space. It can often be something simple like throwing on a record or listening to a podcast from a musician or DJ I admire. Sometimes, if I’m lucky, I can catch a friend spinning out somewhere and then take that energy back to the studio. Then, using this inspiration, I choose to practice little elements of the skills I’m hoping to learn or hone, or try out some new tricks I’ve tapped into from before. It doesn’t always go well, but sometimes I surprise myself with really fun growth opportunities.
Q — What advice do you have for other artists and creatives on making work right now?
Keep producing and practicing your craft, even if it feels like you’re not growing at the rate you wish. It often takes so many stumbles and hiccups to push through to new stages of creativity. I found implementing dedicated moments of time into my schedule has been deeply impactful to my growth as a creative.
Q — What projects do you have coming up, and where can people keep up with your work?
QVC is launching Vinyl DJ training courses this Spring! We’re very excited about this new avenue to connect with music lovers and vinyl enthusiasts. Whether you’re a seasoned collector or just starting out, we are hoping to provide a welcoming atmosphere to learn all the in’s and out’s of Vinyl DJing. To learn more about these courses and follow all our other shenanigans, I always point folks to our website queervinyl.co and our Instagram page @queervinylco. We’re very friendly :)
From coloring her bedroom walls as a kid in Buda to painting murals across Austin, Victoria (Vic) has always used creativity as a way to process the world around her. A self-taught painter whose work lives at the intersection of vulnerability and connection, she brings body parts, animals, and organic forms together in surreal compositions that reflect the complex emotions of being human—and often, of feeling out of place.
Q — What themes do you explore within your work and why?
I often explore what it feels like to be awkward, blocked, or disconnected—especially socially. I love meeting people, but I’m introverted, and sometimes that tension makes me feel out of place. My art lets me express that.
You’ll see recurring imagery like body parts (arms, hands, eyes), nature, and animals in my pieces. I combine things that feel broken or mismatched to show that even when things seem out of place, they can still come together to create something beautiful. Themes like connection, difference, and healing from trauma also show up, always through that mix of nature and body.
Q — Where does community show up in your creative work? What does that mean to you?
Community is everything. For a long time, I let amazing opportunities pass me by because I felt like I wasn’t good enough. But the conversations and encouragement I’ve had with people in the community are what gave me the courage to take up more space—to say yes to larger projects, murals, public art.
It means everything when people connect with my work. That’s what keeps me going and pushes me to create even bigger. I’ve loved getting to collaborate with local orgs like ATX Free Fridge, and I was able to create a food stand at Holiday on 7th, which was such a meaningful experience.
Q — How do you get into a creative headspace? Give us a glimpse into the way you create.
It’s gotten harder as I’ve gotten older and taken on more responsibilities. I work full-time in a corporate role, so finding time and energy to create, rest, and still do the physical activities I love can be a lot.
When I do find time, I try not to pressure myself. Journaling, listening to music, and doodling are how I get new ideas. Sometimes I’ll just lay down and listen to music—and I start to see a painting in my head. Then it turns into a sketch, and eventually into a finished piece. That part still feels magical to me.
Q — What advice do you have for other artists and creatives on making work right now?
Just keep going. Don’t create for other people—create for yourself. It can be disheartening when it feels like your work isn’t landing. But when it does connect with someone, when someone sees a part of themselves in what you made, it’s the best feeling. Stay true to your voice.
Q — What projects do you have coming up, and where can people keep up with your work?
I just recently finished designing a t-shirt for Golden Mean's 2 year anniversary (a shop here in Austin), 10% of sales will be donated to ATX Free Fridge Project. The shirt can be found both on their website and mine! I am also currently working on my largest commission to date.
I will be painting 3 paintings for a building in Austin and more details will be posted on my website after installation (shout out Honeywood for building my canvases). I am really looking forward to this project since it will be animal themed and I will be able to include my soul dog who recently passed early February of this year and my other dog.
So this project has a really special place in my heart. The best way to keep up with my work is on Instagram and my website!
Want to learn more about Future Front’s Annual Artist Residency program?
EXPLORE AT futurefronttexas.org/residency.
On Art and Money: A Resource Guide And Recap
Co-hosted by our founding Executive Director Jane Hervey and a lineup of guest instructors, this three-part series was designed for Austin-based independent and DIY artists, creatives and small business owners.
Introducing Art and Money.
Co-hosted by our founding Executive Director Jane Hervey and a lineup of guest instructors, this three-part series was designed for Austin-based independent and DIY artists, creatives and small business owners. Our inaugural sessions included:
WEBSITES 101 — From ecommerce to artist portfolios, how can you best tell your story—and communicate with the world?
GRANTS 101 — Hosted at DORF’s new gallery, we hosted a candid conversation on applying to (and learning from) grants.
VENUES 101 — In partnership with DASA in downtown Austin, we talked shop on finding, preparing and managing venue relationships for cultural events, short-term creative projects, solo art exhibitions and more.
CONTINUE READING FOR RESOURCES.
ART AND MONEY HIGHLIGHTS
★ No. 1 — WEBSITES 101
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Design for your target audience. The number of pages you make, the kinds of forms you use, the way you set up your homepage should be tailored to the kind of audience you're in communication with and the actions you want them to take.
Identify your call to action or priority message for each page—and make sure it's clear to your audience. Are you trying to get new bookings? Are you wanting to work with wholesalers? Do you need to find new collectors? Do you simply need someone to understand the breadth and variety of your work?
Ensure that your website makes contacting you, collaborating with you or understanding your work clear through visuals, tight text and clear communication.
When in doubt, keep it simple. We all have to start somewhere. Although it's easy to get swept up in branding, SEO and the million other things it takes to make a website, remember that a website is simply a link where people can find high-level information about you and connect to your work, no matter what you're promoting or working on in the moment. This is also what makes a website different from your social media.
KEY RESOURCES
Websites 101 Recording + Slides — https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1NRz2hlKLaRGNl12x62mdHGIbXvOSBpoX?usp=sharing
Helpful Website Brainstorming Tools —
https://thecreativeindependent.com/guides/how-to-make-a-website-for-your-creative-work/
https://ilovecreatives.com/internet-gems
https://reallygoodemails.com/
Creative Business Guide + Brand Goals Guide — https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1oxIDX-xOyEpNaUkPwai27JIjwKDLJw-9?usp=sharing
DIY Website Builders —
For Creative Projects w/ Ecommerce Focus — shopify.com, square.com
For Artist / Creative Portfolios — squarespace.com, framer.com
For Bios & Simple Landing Pages — milkshake.app, linktr.ee, biosites.com (a squarespace company)
★ No. 2 — GRANTS 101
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Thank you to our staff and volunteers for collecting these highlights: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1NRz2hlKLaRGNl12x62mdHGIbXvOSBpoX?usp=sharing
KEY RESOURCES
Open Calls for Artists & Creatives from Future Front: https://futurefronttexas.org/apply
Grant-Writing Pro-Tips from Artist KB Brookins: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Hk3W6O80E5OyO4AuyaUds_xLqdecHzUyGE9OuLsFTgA/edit?usp=sharing
How To Apply For Grants & Fiscal Sponsorship Overview by Artist Liz Moskowitz (Slides): https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ncoNl-tmJX7KpSAW8-2b0m2nqIKagZtB/view?usp=sharing
COA hosts regular virtual open office hours on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month from 10am to noon. They have staff from the all the HOT funded programs (Thrive, Elevate, Nexus, Live Music Fund, Heritage Preservation Grant, Creative Space Assistance Fund) available as well as staff from the Art in Public Places Program for those folks who are interested in applying for Public Arts Projects. Get in touch and explore funding options here: https://www.austintexas.gov/department/cultural-funding
If folks are looking to hire a grantwriter to help them with future applications here is a list of local grantwriters that have experience writing Thrive, Elevate and Nexus Grants: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1MAPSTDhjDgzZEUXpB0FUSlojIHWM6rCu/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=107083371322815718914&rtpof=true&sd=true
★ No. 3 — VENUES AND EVENTS 101
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Thank you to our staff and speakers for contributing to the resources on this presentation: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1WwiuE_k0E0nSaBLD-K0LHaMlM8pAGqNwNtBA7NZ0krs/edit?usp=sharing
KEY RESOURCES
DASA Program Discounted Venue Options: https://downtownaustin.submittable.com/submit/296021/dasa-community-activator
Future Front's Venue Database: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1U-gjlwAXEwrefTdW0eqW0WIfZ-9yGqfXoVtXnO56fHo/edit?usp=sharin
FOR UPCOMING ART AND MONEY SESSIONS, CHECK FUTURE FRONT’S CALENDAR.
Want to stay involved with Future Front?
Keep up with what we’re up to THIS SUMMER here.
On Community Stories, Black Art and Cultural Preservation: History In The Making
History in the Making posed two questions — What does Black History mean to you? How are you making History today? — as an expression of solidarity, a celebration of existence and a desire for life. For ourselves and the futures of those to come after us.
History in the Making poseD two questions — What does Black History mean to you? How are you making History today? — as an expression of solidarity, a celebration of existence and a desire for life. For ourselves and the futures of those to come after us.
Presented in collaboration with curator Taylor Danielle Davis and Austin-based collective Do Not Disturb, this interactive exhibit features artwork from five emerging artists in the Texas South, whose mediums draw on visual archives.
Following an opening night of music and libations in February 2025, the exhibit’s public programming centered multidisciplinary talks and workshops with Austin’s creative community on the exhibit’s themes of cultural preservation and celebration over the course of two months.
Continue reading to learn more about the show.
BEHIND THE CURATORIAL VISION
Artworks by Dontrius Williams. Photo by Jinni J
Featuring artworks by Dontrius Williams, Constance Y. White, Jasmin Porter, Karin Moss & Salihah Saadiq, history in the making was a curatorial collaboration between taylor danielle davis and do not disturb collective.
ABOUT TAYLOR DANIELLE DAVIS
Taylor Danielle Davis is an independent curator and landscape designer dedicated to amplifying emerging QTBIPOC artists through inclusive exhibitions and community engagement. Her work bridges art and culture, fostering diverse creative expression and meaningful conversations in the arts. Raised in Los Angeles, CA and based in Austin, Texas, Taylor’s work is deeply rooted in the celebration and amplification of emerging queer, trans, Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (QTBIPOC) artists. With a dedication to creating inclusive and transformative spaces, Taylor’s curatorial practice is driven by a commitment to fostering artistic expression, elevating underrepresented voices, and sparking meaningful conversations through diverse works of art.
Her experience spans curating group exhibitions in both San Francisco and Austin, collaborating with various arts and culture organizations to bring bold and impactful projects to life. In addition to her curatorial work, Taylor is actively involved in the Austin community, serving as a board member for both Women and their Work Gallery and for the Trail Conservancy, where she chairs the Arts and Culture Committee. She also contributes her expertise as a panel member for Austin’s Art in Public Places program, is a member of MASS Gallery, and serves on the curatorial advisory board for Future Front Texas. Taylor’s multifaceted roles reflect her passion for integrating art, culture, and community, creating spaces where creativity and diversity thrive.
ABOUT DO NOT DISTURB COLLECTIVE
Jasmin Porter is an artist from Oakland, CA living in Austin, Texas. Most of her creative practices depict the intricate vibrancies of life through visual mediums. She seeks to tell the stories that do not often get told and to breathe life into living and still entities.
Karin Moss is a Detroit native with a profound passion for the arts, especially the works of Black artists. From an early age, they were immersed in a rich environment of poetry, paintings, statues, and fashion, within their childhood home which ignited their creative journey. As a child, skateboarding through their neighborhood served as a vital form of self-expression, blending movement and creativity in a way that would later influence their art.
WHAT WE LEARNED FROM HISTORY IN THE MAKING:
WhAT IS EAST AUSTIN’S BLACK HISTORY?
History In The Making was held inside The Future Front House, a 1940s building located in historic East Austin on the corner of 12th Street and Chicon Street.
From its first owner Vera Barton to the exterior’s We Rise mural, our building has a long history that precedes us.
As we learned from conversations with former Six Square Executive Director Nefertitti Jackmon, Preservation Austin board member Miriam Conner and KAZI Station Manager Reno Dudley, historic East Austin has been defined by much more than the ramifications of the City of Austin’s 1928 City Plan, the rising pressures of gentrification, as well as the recent (and controversial) acquisition of 70% of land parcels on 12th Street by developers at Eureka Holdings.
Despite the lack of visible investment from local government and institutions (only 16% total of landmarks in all of Austin are BIPOC) in preserving East Austin’s history, the area’s roots are vibrantly tied to:
cultural centers and historic spaces like KAZI, the George Washington Carver Museum, The Dedrick Hamilton House (where The African American Cultural and Heritage Facility now stands) and Austin’s first university, Huston-Tillotson University
nationally known icons like Ray Charles, Tina Turner, Jackie Robinson and Dr. JJ Seabrook
Over the last fifty years, community organizers, archivists and advocates have pushed the City of Austin to formally pursue establishing historic East Austin as a recognized, active and celebrated African American Cultural Heritage District.
Like many preservation efforts in rapidly changing communities, shifting goal posts and priorities have posed a number of challenges in honoring the past, present and future of Black History in the area.
“Our culture—my culture—is alive. We can’t just preserve Black History in museums, like we’re extinct.”
SO, How do we make history today?
Buy Black. Preserving Austin’s Black History includes actively supporting the businesses, organizations, collectives, artists, creatives and cultural leaders shaping Austin today.
Center community voice in decision-making. When it comes to active preservation efforts between public and private stakeholders in our communities, we have to get creative with the priorities and parameters of the project, ensuring that there are active opportunities for community voice. It’s on us to pay attention to the preservation efforts championed on the governmental level. We have to go to council meetings, research ordinances and show up for landmarks and spaces experiencing erasure. “The community has to play a part in the decisions being made about preservation, public art and cultural programming. Not just informing or feedbacking, but deciding,” says public curator and Austin resident Keyheira Keys.
Build budgets for projects that fund more than art on the walls—build budgets for projects that support ecosystems around Black culture. Self-determined land is important. When it comes to active preservation, “projects must do more than appreciate the Black aesthetic. Preservation projects should center, fund and support Black presence,” says Preservation Austin board member Miriam Conner.
Celebrating our communities’ Black History means practicing curiosity today. We have to be curious about where things come from—and we have to challenge ourselves to ask questions. “We can’t just be reactive. We have to be proactive toward imagining and building the future we want to see today,” says former Six Square Executive Director Nefertitti Jackmon.
Practice care and cultural loss prevention now. As artists, arts administrators, cultural strategists, urban planners, place-makers and community-builders alike, we have to center the prevention of cultural loss and harm in our community plans, cultural planning and curatorial lenses. “Curating means to care,” says Keyheira Keys. We have to be relentlessly listen, as well as expand our capacity for conflict, to build actual relationships in the places we care about.
EXPLORE Photos from the exhibit:
All photos by Jasmin Porter, Yvonne Uwah and Jinni J
DID YOU MISS HISTORY IN THE MAKING?
Keep up with what we’re up to at Future Front—from events to membership—here.
A Letter From The Director: Future Front’s $65,000 NEA Grant Termination
Due to the termination of the National Endowment of the Arts’ cooperative agreement with South Arts, Future Front’s $65,000 ArtsHERE grant award was rescinded on May 5, 2025
Due to recent rollbacks and bans on federal diversity programs across the country, our communities and public spaces—like libraries, museums and arts organizations—are facing unprovoked defunding.
This includes Future Front’s recentLY TERMINATED $65,000 award from the National Endowment of the Arts.
Continue reading for a note from our Executive Director, Jane Hervey.
what do you need to know and how can you help?
“Due to the termination of the National Endowment of the Arts’ cooperative agreement with South Arts, Future Front’s $65,000 ArtsHERE grant award was rescinded on May 5, 2025.
Future Front will no longer receive these promised funds, alongside countless other prestigious and award-winning arts and culture organizations across Texas and America.
I recognize that this news comes at a difficult time for Austin’s arts and culture landscape. With the City of Austin’s cultural funding ecosystem now also under review and delayed, you may read this and immediately wonder what’s next.
We are not going anywhere. If you can support our work during this loss, I highly encourage becoming a member (click here) or contributing an annual donation at futurefronttexas.org/donate.
Find meaningful and measurable ways to include arts organizations, artists, makers, cultural workers, filmmakers, musicians, curators, creative producers, designers and community-builders alike in your personal, professional and philanthropic budgets now.
Community will always keep local art and creativity alive and well. We’re proud to be a part of this one.”
— Jane Hervey, Founding Director at Future Front
LOOKING FOR RESOURCES?
need time to recenter?
Join us for an Open Sounds Healing Studio at The Future Front House with wellness practitioner and multdisciplinary artist Sara Palma on June 20. Click here for details.
CONTRIBUTE TO LOCAL FUNDING FEEDBACK:
Contribute feedback to or join a focus group with the City of Austin by June 5, 2025 for the Creative Reset here: https://www.austintexas.gov/page/creative-reset
BRUSH UP ON MINDSETS & STRATEGIES FOR THESE TIMES FROM our blog:
On Austin’s Natural Ecosystems and Creative Community: Squirrel Fest 2025
On April 12, 2025, we hosted a soft afternoon of all-ages creative workshops, outdoor DJ sets and community vibes during Pease Park’s Squirrel Fest—an annual day to celebrate Spring, Austin’s natural ecosystems and the city’s iconic native squirrel.
On April 12, 2025, we hosted a soft afternoon of all-ages creative workshops, outdoor DJ sets and community vibes during Pease Park’s Squirrel Fest—an annual day to celebrate Spring, Austin’s natural ecosystems and the city’s iconic native squirrel.
Experiences included:
Make A Clay Forest Friend with Tanya Zal
DIY Friendship Weavings with Future Front
Pease Park Bird Bingo & Coloring with Where’d The Wild Things Go
Nature Painting Picnic with Kayla Kennedy
DJ Sets In The Park with HoneyPocket and Hierba Malita
Hands-on activities, yoga, food trucks and pop-ups (like Garbo’s and Gem’s Sweets Bakeshop), plus playtime in the park curated by Pease Park Conservancy and other Squirrel Fest partners
Outdoor film screening of “The Wild Robot (2024)”
As always, thousands of Austin families joined us for a BEAUTIFUL day in austin’s first (and oldest) public park.
scroll for a visual recap.
PS — We are fundraising for our future. Find ways to support below:
The Front Market's Spring 2025 Season: The Official Recap
For The Front Market’s Spring 2025 Season, we exhibited 175+ independent artists, makers and creatives, welcoming 5,000 visitors across the state of Texas.
For The Front Market’s Spring 2025 Season, we exhibited 175+ independent artists, makers and creatives, welcoming 5,000 visitors across the state of Texas.
Keep reading for a full look at this season’s impact.
this season’s three highlights:
★ No. 1 — 5,000+ VISITORS & 150+ ARTISTS AND MAKERS
From ceramicists and fiber artists to woodworkers and jewelry makers, we exhibited more than 150 women and LGBTQ+ artists, makers, creatives and independent craftspeople across Texas, with an average of 2,500 visitors joining us each day.
★ No. 2 — 100% Community-Led CURATION & PRODUCTION TEAMS
It took six staff members, 20 board members, 15 event volunteers, 200+ collaborators and six months of planning to open The Front Market’s Spring 2025 Season at Distribution Hall.
★ No. 3 — $1,500+ DONATIONS RAISED, $10,000+ In Commissions & Contracts DISTRIBUTED
Thanks to support from our members, volunteers and sponsors at Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Distribution Hall, The City of Austin’s Cultural Arts Division, Moontower Rentals, Miscellaneous Rentals, Topo Chico the Downtown Austin Alliance Foundation and Texas Commission on The Arts, we were able to keep the market free and open to the public, with complimentary community workshops each day.
The market’s production and programming generated more than $10,000 in direct commissions and contracts for independent artists, creative teams and local collectives, too.
You can read about this season in TRIBEZA, Austin American-Statesman, KXAN and MORE.
BASK IN THE VISUAL RECAP.
All photos by Jeffrey Jin and Yvonne Uwah
THREE WAYS TO STAY INVOLVED:
✰ Head to thefrontmarket.com (click here) to tap into the spring 2025 Season lineup of vendors, workshops, DJs, and collaborators at anytime.
✰ Remember why spaces like The Front Market matter.
We dive deeper into what supporting diverse artists, makers and craftspeople, as well as local art and creativity, means at thefrontmarket.com/mindset.
✰ Explore all we do at Future Front—and find what’s for you—at futurefronttexas.org/programming.
Thank you to our sponsors, partners and friends.
✰
Thank you to our sponsors, partners and friends. ✰
THE FRONT MARKET WOULD NOT BE ABLE to nurture creative communities without support from our sponsors, members, staff, volunteers, friends and you. Thank you.
