About

The story behind the gatherings

Lone Star Lotus is a project of Artly World, a 501c3 nonprofit that has brought creativity and connection to Austin's underserved communities for the past 14 years.

Our Story

We set out to create a place to belong.

Lone Star Lotus started with a simple observation: Austin has no shortage of things to do, but not nearly enough places to actually be present with others. We wanted gatherings that ask for your full attention instead of your small talk, held by people who've intentionally honed their craft, in rooms around the city with energy and character. So we created small, thoughtfully curated experiences around creativity, well-being, and connection, the kind that leave you a little more grounded and a little less alone than you were when you walked in.

None of that happens on its own. It takes a grassroots community and nonprofit standing behind it, one that has been doing this work in Austin for a lot longer than Lone Star Lotus has existed.

What We Believe

Three core values

Artly World's mission has always been backed by the same core values. We built Lone Star Lotus around them too.

01

Accessible to all

Money should never decide who gets to slow down and create something. Every gathering runs pay-what-you-can. No one is turned away.

02

Real, in-person community

We create spaces where you use your real name, sit close to strangers, and leave knowing at least one of them a little better.

03

Artists and healers matter

The guides, artists, and teachers who facilitate our gatherings deserve to be treated like the professionals they are.

The Nonprofit Behind It

An Initiative by Artly World

Artly World logo, a flame formed from red, gold, green, and blue brushstrokes above the words Artly World Nonprofit

Artly World, a 501c3 nonprofit, started in 2012 as a grassroots group of volunteer arts and music educators providing free workshops in Austin's underserved communities. From the beginning, it's been built around a core conviction:

Creativity is a human right, and it is one of our most powerful tools for human connection, healing, and community resilience.

Fourteen years later, that belief has grown into a suite of impactful programs serving people across the city. Lone Star Lotus is the newest manifestation of our mission, bringing people together to reunite with their inner creator and build a healthier, more connected society.

Read the full Artly World story Trusted By Our Community
Internal Revenue Service seal
IRS-verified 501(c)(3)
Candid Platinum Transparency 2026 seal
Candid Platinum Transparency
City of Austin logo
Featured at Austin City Hall
Supported By

Organizations who back this work

Texas Commission on the Arts logo
Silicon Fortunes logo
Spider Mode logo
Casa de Luz logo
Create · Connect · Belong

Come see what fourteen years of believing in Austin looks like.

The best way to understand Lone Star Lotus is to sit at the table. The next gathering is open.