The Mycelium of Futurelands
While Austin celebrated SXSW during Spring 2024, Highlander Center popped up at The Future Front House for all-day sessions, exploring the intersections of storytelling, movement-building and the artistic, cultural and creative mycelium of southern people’s struggles for justice and democracy.
From an experiential pop-up library (straight from Highlander’s archives in Tennessee) to an evening film screening and panel discussion, the day reflected conversations among femme and queer artists, organizers and friends inviting us all to imagine the future.
a few highlights:
✰ NO. 1 — RESONANT cultural strategy starts with our stories.
Throughout the day, Highlander Center’s youth team created space for us all to voice the strength of our stories and the storytellers who have shaped us. Our favorite storytellers were often our caretakers, our mothers, our movement-builders—the people who remind us that we are alive and here and now. Many of us touched on the power of truthful, supportive gossip in an oppressive South, too, and the healing that comes when a quiet story gets the chance to be loud.
✰ NO. 2 — we are the mycelium we want to see in the world.
Throughout the day, we explored the somatics of movement-building. We broke bread with Highlander Center’s culinary team, we clapped hands and improvised with Jenae Taylor. Like the mushrooms in our meals, we were a tiny but mighty network of energy all day long—witnessing and testifying.
✰ NO. 3 — our personal & public movements DESERVE OUR BEAUTY and our honestY.
To close the day, we reflected on “A Place of Rage,” with Futurelands organizer Emma Robinson and guest speakers Eden Hakimzadeh and Breya Monae. Together, they invited the audience to encourage emergence, integrity and beauty in our movement work, modeling in real-time the art of a welcoming and safe conversation among organizers.
Through their shared dialogue, we witnessed grief, disappointment, gratitude and hope for the justice principles that shape culture today. Their conversation was a reminder that our movements deserve more than our apathy—they deserve honesty, brilliance and beauty, too.
FUTURELANDS’ VISUAL RECAP:
Did you miss Futurelands?
You can learn more about all of the LGBTQ+ artists, makers, creatives and organizations who joined us in 2024 here. For details on future events, stay tuned on Future Front’s calendar.