The Big Mixer

The Big Mixer 2025: Advocacy Through Art
Presented by Texas Black Lens
In collaboration with the George Washington Carver Museum

Date: Thursday, October 30, 2025
Time: 6:30 PM – 9:00 PM
Location: George Washington Carver Museum, Cultural & Genealogy Center
Admission: Free with registration

The Big Mixer is Texas Black Lens’ annual networking event created to unite filmmakers, artists, and community members across disciplines. Hosted in collaboration with the George Washington Carver Museum, this gathering celebrates creativity, collaboration, and connection within Austin’s Black creative community.

Whether you are a filmmaker, writer, actor, or storyteller, The Big Mixer offers a welcoming space to network, exchange ideas, and explore how art can be used as a powerful tool for advocacy, truth, and change.

This year’s featured panel, Advocacy Through Art, explores the intersection of art and activism through the lens of artists across the diaspora. The conversation will examine how creatives navigate underrepresentation, systemic barriers, and the responsibility of storytelling in shaping social and political change.

Moderator:
J. Manzo – Filmmaker and Educator

Panelists:
Dr. Rikki Byrd – Writer, Curator, and Professor of Visual Culture, UT Austin
Fitzgerald Junior – Writer, Filmmaker, and Multidisciplinary Artist
Jared Royal – Visual Artist and Film Director
Kelly Daniela Norris – Filmmaker
Channing Smith – Filmmaker and Producer

Schedule:
6:30 PM – Doors open and networking reception
7:15 PM – Panel discussion: Advocacy Through Art
8:00 PM – Audience Q&A and continued networking

The Big Mixer offers a unique opportunity to connect with Austin’s creative professionals, engage in meaningful discussions about art and activism, and build lasting relationships within the film and arts community. Join us for an evening of conversation and community!

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Host or Publisher Texas Black Lens