LGBTQ+ arts festival returns to Austin for 10th year

A local LGBTQ+ arts festival "OUTsider" is returning for its tenth year, a testament to its growth from a small DIY event into a multi-day showcase.

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A local LGBTQ+ arts festival "OUTsider" is returning for its tenth year, a testament to its growth from a small DIY event into a multi-day showcase.

Festival co-founder PJ Raval calls it a "queer transmedia arts festival" and said that the anniversary is "truly incredible."

"We started as a very small DIY organization and community of artists, organizers, curators and scholars," Raval said. "Ten years later, I'm really proud to say that not only have we showcased 1,000s of different artists, but they've been coming from all around the world."

Transmedia is the use of two mediums in an artistic work, such as a film incorporated into a dancer's routine.

"For us, the concept of transmedia is just indicating a crossing of different disciplines, and perhaps even an expansive way of thinking about art and performance," Raval said.

Queerness is a major part of the showcased works, according to Raval.

"A lot of [the artists] are looking at the identity of being queer, and how that affects them in different parts of the world, and also just different issues that queer people are facing around the globe," he said. "Art is incredibly important, not only as a self-reflection of our culture but also one that can build culture...can build community. And I think as a queer individual, I think that's one of the things that we do really well."

The event will be held at Austin venue The Vortex from February 15-18. A full schedule is available on the OUTsider website.