VIBE Downtown: $30,000 In Grants, Five Community Curators
Powered and presented by Downtown Austin on September 19 and 20, the inaugural VIBE Downtown distributed $30,000 in arts and culture events over five community events on Old Sixth Street.
VIBE Downtown was designed to fund $30,000 in commissions for local artists and creatives, emerging from a year-long public engagement process facilitated by 501c3 arts and culture organization, Future Front Texas. Reflecting feedback from cultural stakeholders, VIBE offers more than a weekend to remember. The experience builds a bridge toward gaps in economic prosperity and addresses urgent needs to cultivate art, culture and community downtown.
Free and open to the public, this year’s inaugural pilot program welcomed 800+ visitors, as well as cultural activations by five local grantees: Where Y'all At Though?!, Bobby Pudrido, The Mosaic Workshop, Slow Fashion Festival and Shake It Africa Austin.
ENJOY THIS YEAR’S VISUAL RECAP.
Photos by Jasmin Porter
EVERYONE IS WELCOME TO DISCOVER DOWNTOWN.
VIBE Downtown reflects a year-long community design effort and public engagement process for Downtown Austin Alliance and Downtown Austin Alliance Foundation, facilitated by executive leaders from 501c3 arts and culture organization Future Front Texas.
Downtown Austin Alliance Staff
Raasin McIntosh, Lead
Emily Risinger, Co-Lead
Amanda Baez
Jenell Moffett
Leta Harrison
Marilyn Willson
Downtown Austin Alliance Foundation Board of Directors
Dewitt Peart, Secretary, Downtown Austin
Jennifer Wiebrand, Gables Residential
Kevin Brown, DuBois Bryant & Campbell
Nick Moulinet, Chair, DPR Construction
SaulPaul, SaulPaul Productions, Foundation
Xavier Pena, St. David’s Foundation
Future Front Leadership Team
Jane Hervey, Lead
Xochi Solis, Lead
Participating Active Urbanism Committee Members (DAA)
Nick Moulinet, Chair
Adrienne Brown
Albi Hasku
Andy Austin
Ashley Kegley-Whitehead
Dan Jefferson
Eric Schultz
Heather Hart Potts
Janis Daemmrich
Kevin Brown
Lindsay Palmer
Marissa Rivera
Martin Nembhard
Michael Girard
Rachel Blair
Rebecca Senchak
Sania Shifferd
SaulPaul
Xavier Peña
VIBE Downtown 2025 Awardees
Whereabouts?! Happy Hour, Panel and Live Performances by Where Y’all AT Though?! ATX
Piecing Together Mosaic Mural by ATX Mosaic Workshop
Con Mucho Amor Bobby Pudrido Productions
Live Performances and Dance Workshops by Shake It Africa Austin
ATX Mending Lab and Swap by Slow Fashion Festival Austin
VIBE Downtown Brand + Creative Team
Program Design by Raasin McIntosh, Emily Risinger, Jane Hervey and Xochi Solis
Event Design by Emily Risinger and Jane Hervey
Production Design by Xochi Solis
Creative Direction by Jane Hervey
Art Direction and Logo Direction by Jesús Acosta
Videos by Carlos Nevarez
Photos by Jasmin Porter and Raven Birk
VIBE Downtown 2025 Selection Committee
Reno Dudley, KAZI FM 88.7 Austin Director
Olivia Tamzarian, Marketing and Outreach Supervisor, The Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center (ESB-MACC)
Keyheira Keys, Austin curator (formerly Six Square)
Marissa Rivera, Active Urbanism Committee-Downtown Austin Alliance, ofCOLOR Co-Founder
Mikaela Rodriguez, Austin DJ and electronic music producer
Melissa Garcia, Downtown Live Music Professional and Events Leader
Lu Farrell, Artist, community organizer and digital strategist
Emmy Laursen, Curator of Public Programs & Engagement for The Contemporary Austin
Sania Shifferd, Active Urbanism Committee-Downtown Austin Alliance, Architect, Project Management
Marina Islas, Outreach & Exhibits Manager at the Austin History Center
