Culturalyst + Creative Waco: A New Chapter for Waco’s Creative Community

Welcome. Let’s Grow Waco’s Culture Together

Creative Waco has always worked to strengthen and support the creative spirit of our city. Art in all its forms tells Waco’s story and shapes our future. Culturalyst is the next step in that effort. It gives artists, arts organizations, and anyone invested in culture a free and accessible digital home to share work, list events, find opportunities, and stay connected.

What Culturalyst Is and Why It Matters

When integrated with the City of Waco’s broader cultural vision, Culturalyst becomes more than a directory. It becomes part of a long-term cultural infrastructure strategy that supports economic growth, tourism, and artistic development across the region. This aligns directly with key goals in A Cultural Plan for Waco, which outlines how strengthening artist networks and improving access to cultural resources helps Waco build a more vibrant and sustainable creative ecosystem.

The Vision

Culturalyst believes people create culture. The platform centers the individuals and organizations who bring creativity to life through art, performance, storytelling, and connection. Instead of every city or group trying to build its own tools, Culturalyst offers shared digital infrastructure, working with local arts agencies to design systems that reduce capacity drain and prevent obsolescence. This collaborative approach makes arts ecosystems more efficient, equitable, and sustainable.

What the Platform Offers

When you join Culturalyst Waco, you get:

• A public profile or portfolio page designed to be easy to find and search‑engine friendly.
• A directory of artists and organizations across cities, making it easier to discover collaborators and connect with others.
• An opportunity engine where grants, open calls, residencies, exhibitions, and other creative opportunities are posted.
• An event calendar for sharing shows, openings, workshops, and performances, which also complements public-facing arts efforts by the City of Waco’s Arts & Culture division. for sharing shows, openings, workshops, and performances.
• Curated notifications for opportunities based on discipline or interest.
• Full control over your own data.

Why This Is Important for Waco

Culturalyst supports Waco’s long-term cultural development. By creating a centralized, accessible directory of artists, events, and creative resources, the platform directly supports several pillars of A Cultural Plan for Waco, including artist support, cultural equity, and increasing public participation in the arts.

Benefit for Waco Creatives and the CommunityWhy It MattersArtists gain visibilityMany talented people struggle with self‑promotion. Culturalyst gives them a place to be discovered.Opportunities become easier to findGrants, exhibitions, and calls for art are collected in one central place, saving time and broadening access.Stronger connection between people and organizationsCollaboration becomes simpler and more natural when everyone is on one platform.A clearer cultural identity for the cityA visible and active arts scene strengthens Waco’s sense of belonging and pride.More equity and accessBecause it is free and open, more artists can participate regardless of background or resources.

Why Creative Waco Is Committed to This Work

Creative Waco is the nonprofit arts agency for Waco and McLennan County. We champion local artists, produce cultural events, and grow the creative economy to make arts and culture a driving force for Waco’s future. Culturalyst feels like exactly the kind of resource that would have made many artists’ journeys feel less intimidating and more supported. It gives space for creatives who may feel shy about self‑promotion and helps them share their work.

We are committed to helping artists and cultural organizations navigate this platform. We want to offer not just a tool, but guidance, connection, and community. We have already begun onboarding local creatives and groups; every new participant makes the platform stronger because the network effect grows.

Behind the scenes, our team continues to advocate for artists with city leadership, partners, and stakeholders, including collaborations like the Waco Utility Box Art program.

How You Can Support Waco’s Creative Future

If you care about Waco, the arts, or the future of our cultural landscape, here are a few ways to get involved:

• Create a Culturalyst profile on waco.culturalyst.com.
• Help spread the word to others who should be on the platform.
• Attend local arts events listed in Creative Waco’s event calendars.
• Share opportunities or events that others may benefit from by posting them on Culturalyst.
• Support Creative Waco by volunteering or donating.
• Give feedback so we can continue shaping this resource to meet local needs.

Final Word

Culturalyst is an invitation. It is an open door for Waco’s artists, cultural organizations, and creative community to come together, grow together, and inspire together. Creative Waco is proud to champion this tool in partnership with the people who make Waco creative.

If you believe in art, in community, and in Waco’s future, we invite you to step in and help build something meaningful.