Local author and community arts advocate Keli Stewart has opened a storefront for Front Porch Arts Center, a nonprofit public art center designed to connect the arts, community and culture of the West Side.
“Growing up in Austin, I was surrounded by a vibrant community that nurtured in me a passion for storytelling and the arts.” Stewart, who also authored the poetry book Small Altars, said in a statement. “My family has lived on the West Side and had businesses for three generations, and I’m proud to own a home in Austin.”
“As I pursued a life of writing, I’ve witnessed that the Austin neighborhood is teaming with powerful artists of all disciplines, without access to community arts spaces to showcase their talent. Front Porch Arts Center is my way of paying homage to those roots and creating a space where artists and neighbors can discover, explore, and share their own creative voices,” she said ahead of the grand opening last weekend.
Along with its programming, Front Porch Arts Center collaborates with local schools, community organizations, and artists to develop outreach initiatives and special events.
The center is located at 5851 W. Madison St.