Embolden Workshops

Embolden Workshop Full Weekend Pass | Dougherty Arts Center
Sliding Scale: $95 - $150

Full access to all four ticketed events on June 20th and 21st:

• Thoughts That Move | June 20 | 6:30pm - 8pm: a live episode recording of five Austin-based artists discussing how race and art intersect in our city.
• Tuning Your Instrument | June 21 | 12pm - 1pm: developing a daily movement practice for performers who run their own businesses.
• Matching Talent with Business | June 21 | 1:30pm - 3:30pm: a panel and Q&A with some of Austin’s most prestigious artists and arts professionals.
• Embolden Showcase Audience Ticket | June 21 | 7pm - 9pm: an open-mic style professional showcase that is open to the public, and designed to rally the community around Austin's talent!

Plus exclusive access to:

• Artist Happy Hour | June 21 | 6pm - 7pm: connect with other artists over food and drink in the Dougherty's art gallery.
• Snacks and drinks all weekend long in the onsite Artist Lounge.

6/20 | 6:30pm - 8pm | Dougherty Arts Center

Sliding Scale: $25 - $50

Thoughts That Move is a platform for Austin artists to explore how race and art intersect in our city. Created in 2020 by Early Era collaborators Stephanie Patrick, Daniel Broxton, and Lauren Parra Faudree, the series has featured over 50 artists across three seasons of filmed interviews, covering topics such as “Creating in a White World,” “Equity in Arts Funding,” and “Race & Ethnicity in Arts Education.”

For the first time since 2022, Thoughts That Move returns at the Dougherty Arts Center for our first live episode recording! Hosted by Co-Creator Daniel Broxton, our 2025 discussion features five Austin artists from diverse disciplines, reflecting on the city’s current artistic climate and how it can evolve into a more inclusive, opportunity-rich hub for creative expression.

Join us for a thought-provoking discussion designed to move the needle—and inspire change. This event will be recorded.

6/21 | 12pm - 1pm | Dougherty Arts Center

Sliding Scale: $15 - $25

For performance artists, our body is our instrument. But running our arts businesses often means long hours in front of a computer—leading to strain and long-term physical issues that can impact our ability to perform at our best. In this hour-long movement class led by Stephanie Patrick (lifelong dancer, certified yoga instructor, and Early Era Artistic Director), we'll create individualized short movement practices for artists to incorporate throughout their work days to help maintain the health of our most valuable performance tools - our bodies.

6/21 | 1:30pm - 3:30pm | Dougherty Arts Center

Sliding Scale: $25 - $50

The cornerstone event of Embolden Workshops, Matching Talent with Business seeks to provide opportunities for professional development, discussion, and networking for performance artists of all forms. Taking place on Saturday, June 21,1:30pm at Dougherty Arts Center, this workshop explores the tools needed for your arts business to be just as savvy as you are onstage. Join our host Stephanie Patrick (Early Era Artistic Director) and six panelists as we discuss the ABC’s of running an artistic business, current trends in the arts industry, and questions that you have about your own artistic journey.

Created in 2021 by Early Era Collective, Salvage Vanguard Theater and Ground Floor Theatre, Embolden Workshops aim to explore the business skills that we were never taught, prevent burnout, and build community. We hope that attending artists walk away with resources, actionable items, and a bigger network of artists and professionals to cheer you on in this challenging career path that we love so much.

Panelists are decades-long Austin-based artists and professionals working across fundraising, marketing, legal services, venue management, and more. The workshop includes a Q&A and community-building exercises.

6/21 | 7pm - 9pm | Dougherty Arts Center

This open-mic style showcase is designed to rally the community around Austin's talented performers! Professional artists of all performance styles will do what they do best on this legacy Austin stage, with the support of Lighting Designer Patrick Anthony and Sound Engineer Casey Lee to bring their visions to life.

*This ticket is for audience members only. Showcase performers do not need to purchase a ticket to participate.