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Prizer Arts & Letters

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Prizer Arts & Letters

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We are a community-based and socially-engaged center for arts and literature.

The mission of Prizer Arts & Letters is to nurture and exhibit socially engaged artwork that fosters dialogue and creativity.

10/14/2026

Gabby Ebertowski is returning to Smithville this Saturday, Oct. 17th, to lead a poetry workshop from 11am to 1pm. We hope you will join us for this free informal class - no prior poetry experience needed. Gabriella Ebertowski is a poet from Corpus Christi, Texas. She currently teaches at Texas State University and was the 2025-2026 TSU Clark House Writer-in-Residence in Smithville.

AND, join us for a reading that same day at 2:30pm. We will be hearing from this stellar lineup of writers:
Gabriella Ebertowski, Sara Bawany, Kale Hensley, Nala Washington, Brian Seward, and India Sawh.

Hope to see you at the workshop, the reading - or both! Come spend a day in Smithville immersed in poetry!

10/07/2026

Reminder: Sara Hickman’s reading is THIS FRIDAY, Oct. 9th! Join us at 212 Main St, Smithville to hear Sara read from her memoir. Doors open at 6:30pm & the reading starts at 7pm.

10/03/2026

Prizer has THREE Literary Events this October!

Join us for one or two or all three at 212 Main St., Smithville, TX!

On Friday, Oct. 9th, Sara Hickman will read selections from the memoir she worked on while in residence at Prizer and also share writing about her mother. Doors open at 6:30pm, and the reading starts at 7:00pm.

On Saturday, Oct. 17th, former Texas State University Poet-In-Residence Gabriella Ebertowski will lead a poetry workshop from 11am to 1pm. This workshop is free and open to all - no prior poetry experience required.

And, at 2:30pm on Oct. 17th, join us for a reading featuring the following writers: Gabriella Ebertowski, Sara Bawany, Kale Hensley, Nala Washington, Brian Seward, and India Sawh.

09/21/2026

Did you know that Torch Literary Arts turns 20 this year? Congratulations to founder and director Amanda Johnson Amanda Johnston on this amazing milestone! And, thank you to Torch for 20 years of supporting and amplifying Black women writers.

Torch will celebrate with a host of events starting this Friday, Sept. 25th. They’ve already launched an online auction that includes artwork from three incredible artists who have shown at Prizer!

To bid, click on the link in Torch’s bio: Torch Literary Arts

The incredible Reji Thomas Reji Thomas has donated two original paintings to this auction - thank you, Reji, for your generosity!

There is a limited edition print from the incredible artist Delita Martin Black Box Press Studio titled, “Let Me Breathe.” This piece was created in response to the 2020 police killings. The image is based on Martin’s son, with whom she worked in collaboration. He sat for this portrait and asked that “Let Me Breathe” appear on the front, and he also helped with the stitching elements in the piece. Stitching is an important part of Martin’s work and is deeply connected to what she learned from her grandmother.

And, there’s a framed photograph from the remarkable Austin artist Cindy Elizabeth! Cindy Elizabeth, MFA It’s titled “Dreams to Reality.”

Go to the link in Torch’s bio Torch Literary Arts to see these and more beautiful artwork from Wura-Natasha Ogunji, Krista Franklin and Dawn Okoro!

Pictured:

1. Original painting by Reji Thomas created for Torch, 14”x18”

2. “Nanu,” original painting by Reji Thomas created for Torch. 12”x12”

3. Limited edition print ( #2) by Delita Martin, 24”x36”

4. Framed photograph, “Dreams to Reality” by Cindy Elizabeth, 12” x16”

09/18/2026

Mark your calendars! Sara Hickman will be giving a reading at Prizer on Friday, October 9th at 7pm (doors open at 6:30pm). She will share selections from the memoir she worked on while in residence at Prizer and as well as some of her writings about her mother. Hope you can join us for this special evening.

08/26/2026

A big thank you to Prizer artist-in-residence Sara Hickman for leading the Smithville Library’s Teen Night this week. For the group, Sara performed several songs, talked about the importance of mental health, and led creative drawing and journaling activities. Thank you, too, to Smithville Library Director Judy Bergeron for bringing the group to Prizer and to library staff member Paul for assisting with the creative activities.

08/14/2026

We had a great meeting with the incredible Hannibal Lokumbe at his studio in Smithville last week. Prizer is partnering with Hannibal on his program, the Music Liberation Orchestra, through which he teaches music, poetry and genealogy in area prisons.

Hannibal will also give a talk at Prizer about his process of bringing music and teaching restoration to incarcerated individuals - stay tuned for details about this important discussion.

Pictured: Hannibal in his studio talking about his current opera, Once A Place Called Earth

About Hannibal Lokumbe: Hannibal Lokumbe is an American composer, poet, community activist and noted jazz trumpeter. His career spans more than four decades. Originally from Smithville, Texas, Lokumbe lived and played in the New York jazz scene for many years where he performed with many of his music idols including Gil Evans, Roy Haynes, Cecil Taylor, Pharoah Sanders and Elvin Jones.

Notable awards and recognitions: Harlem Jazz Hall of Fame Lifetime Inductee; Bessie; National Endowment for the Arts (NEA); The Detroit Symphony Orchestra Lifetime Achievement, 2011; United States Artist Award in Music, Peter Cummings Fellow, 2010; Joyce Award 2011, Texas City Independent School District Hall of Fame; The Contemporary Arts Center SweetArts Award, New Orleans; Honorary Advanced Degree, Drexel University College of Arts and Sciences, 2017; Philadelphia Orchestra Composer-in-Residency, 2016-2019; 2020 recipient, Americans For The Arts Johnson Fellowship for Artists Transforming Communities.

Commissions: The Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia; The Philadelphia Orchestra; St. Louis Symphony; Detroit Symphony Orchestra; The American Composers Orchestra; Houston Symphony; Baltimore Symphony Orchestra; New Jersey Symphony Orchestra/New Jersey Performing Arts Center; Kronos Quartet; Vocal Essence; Carnegie Hall; Carole Haas Gravagno; The Art Sanctuary of Philadelphia; Academy of Arts and Sciences; the Nashville Symphony and the Oklahoma City Philharmonic (present).

07/24/2026

Thank you to Lindsay Hutchens, Austin’s Art in Public Places Coordinator, for coming to our Community Drawing Studio to tell people about the current open calls for public art. Two of these calls are for Texas-based artists, and two are for Austin-area artists (this includes artists residing in all counties that touch Travis - Williamson, Bastrop, Caldwell, Hays, Blanco, and Burnet counties).

The deadline to apply is coming up soon on August 3rd. Here’s the link to apply: https://www.austintexas.gov/aipp Austin Arts, Culture, Music and Entertainment

07/23/2026

Many thanks to Sara Hickman Sara Hickman for opening the doors and hosting community gatherings during her stay as Prizer’s artist-in-residence. Sara has also been practicing her singing in the front window at night - it you stroll by 212 Main, you just might catch a window concert from the one and only Sara Hickman!

07/20/2026

We are deeply mourning the loss of artist Betelhem Makonnen. We had the honor of showing Bete’s work along with fellow artist and collaborator, Adrian Aguilera. Their exhibit, “People the We,” reflected Bete’s innate curiosity, her drive to engage with complex questions and her true openness of spirit. We will greatly miss Bete and thank her for the countless ways she enlarged our lives through her work and her being.

Pictured: Bete with Adrian and images from their show, “People the We.”

Address

Austin, TX

Opening Hours

Saturday	12pm - 5pm
Sunday	12pm - 5pm

Website

http://www.prizerartsandletters.org/

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