OUR MISSION
OUTsider is an Austin-based transmedia nonprofit that celebrates the bold originality and creative nonconformity of the LGBTQ+ communities through the presentation of provocative, overlooked and out-of-the-box film, dance, theater, performance art, music, writing and visual art.
Through its annual festival and conference, OUTsider unites queer artists, audiences and scholars from around the globe to exchange ideas, ignite conversations, transcend boundaries and experience new pleasures through artistic discovery.
OUR VALUES
Creativity
Showcasing the wild imaginings of the queer arts communities.
Community
Developing new forms of queer togetherness through unprecedented festival experiences.
Collaboration
Inspiring conversations and connections between audiences, academics and artists across disciplines.
Cultural Enrichment
Enhancing understandings of queer art through dynamic panel discussions, participatory activities, casual shindigs and scholarly presentations.
OUR NAME
The name “OUTsider” is a reference to queerness, and specifically the act of refusing shame and living one’s life “out,” including living “out” as an ally of the LGBTQ+ communities. “OUTsider” also expresses an affinity with outsider sensibilities and people–those who take risks and dare to be different, and all marginalized folks who live and think outside the status quo. These various notions of the “OUTsider” inform the festival’s structure and content.