We Have Officially Re-Opened: A Recap Of The Front Market And Festival
This past weekend, we produced The Front Market and Festival — our first-ever flagship production as Future Front Texas.
As a creative community experience, The Front showcased more than 150+ women and queer artists, designers, small business owners, performers, filmmakers and independent creatives across the state of Texas. With open-air and outdoor daytime markets and nighttime showcases, we saw more than 3,500 guests, raising $2,245 in donations for our Creative Future of Texas Fund.
Keep reading for a full recap of the weekend.
ON AUGUST 21 AND 22, WE EXHIBITED MORE THAN 150 SMALL BUSINESSES AT THE FRONT MARKET.
Love balm. That’s the best way to describe this year’s first-ever The Front Market.
Our vendors came from across Texas to share their work and receive support—and y’all showed up with generous hearts. Thank you for loving on our lineup!
Moreover, we appreciate y’all for rolling with us as we redesigned the market to accommodate for optimal community safety. This year for COVID-19 safety measures, capacity was limited, masks were required and half of our vendors were located outdoors in the steamy and dreamy Texas heat.
If you didn’t catch the market, you can still take a look at all of our vendors here. You can learn more about applying for the next one here.
ON AUGUST 20 AND 21, WE showcased MORE THAN 17 artists, performers and filmmakers, as part of the front fest.
To toast our return, we curated two intimate nighttime showcases, featuring local filmmakers, musicians and DJs that we collaborated with during shutdown. Hosted in collaboration with queer-everybody bar Cheer Up Charlies, every showcase was special and sweet.
If you didn’t make it out, you can still get to know all of this year’s guest artists at thefrontfest.com.
THANK YOU FOR HELPING US RAISE $2245 FOR OUR MICRO-GRANTS INITIATIVES. THANK YOU FOR SHOWING UP AND SHOWING OUT FOR THIS COMMUNITY. THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING WHAT WE DO.
We could not have reopened without you. Emerging from shutdown with such a delightfully warm, safe and loving welcome has been a reminder of good times to come. We hope you’ll stay involved!
BEHIND THE FRONT MARKET AND FESTIVAL
The Front Market and Festival has emerged from what was formerly known as BABES FEST and craftHER Market—two spaces that were designed around sustaining communities that care about gender equity and supporting homegrown businesses, creatives and organizations. Active from 2016 to 2020, BABES FEST and craftHER Market saw more than 30,000 guests and supported more than 2000 creatives and business owners.
Now, after a year of shutdowns, pivots and existential realness, The Front Market and Festival will carry that work into the future.
We will continue platforming emerging talent across the state of Texas. We will continue to work cross-collaboratively with partners to host workshops, build community and provide opportunities to creatives and small business owners year-round. Thank you to all of our supporting brands, organizations and collaborators:
As our first flagship production, we are so grateful for your support. <3 If you are interested in becoming a partner in 2022, please email us at hello@futurefronttexas.org.
WANT TO STAY INVOLVED WITH FUTURE FRONT TEXAS?
Keep up with what we’re up to—from virtual events to membership—here.