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Organizer seeks Music Commission endorsement for Texas Women’s Songwriters Festival in Lockhart
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Summary
Organizer Mandy Rowden asked the Music Commission to endorse the inaugural Texas Women’s Songwriters Festival, described as a multi-venue, largely free event in Lockhart in September featuring 50+ women songwriters and headliners including Rosie Flores and Sara Hickman.
An organizer of a new songwriter festival asked the Music Commission on June 2 to consider formal endorsement and to help connect the event to city grant opportunities and venue partnerships.
Mandy Rowden, festival founder and music educator, described the Texas Women’s Songwriters Festival as a three-day, largely free showcase scheduled for September in downtown Lockhart with more than 50 artists on 8–10 stages and evening headliner showcases capped at about 150 seats. Rowden said the festival will spotlight women songwriters across ages and genres to build industry connections and tourism during a non-peak season.
Why it matters: The festival aims to promote gender equity in songwriting and create new paid performance opportunities for Texas artists, while driving local venue revenue and tourism in Lockhart.
What the presenter said: Rowden said selections were made through a submissions process that used an industry selection committee and scoring system; she also said Pilot Moon Films will document the festival for promotion and artist deliverables. “Our mission is to produce an annual music festival in Downtown Lockhart that celebrates the voices of Texas women songwriters,” she said.
Commission feedback and next steps: Commissioners recommended the organizer monitor ACME’s Creative Reset and Live Music Fund grants, and they offered outreach and promotional support. Commissioners suggested the group should be prepared to apply for relevant grants when ACME’s guidelines and application windows reopen this fall. Several commissioners offered to sign personal endorsements and to work with staff to discuss formal commission recognition.
Ending: Rowden asked for citywide venue partners and grant opportunities; staff and commissioners said they would follow up about formal endorsement options and possible promotion through commission channels.
