In 1986, Ronald Reagan was the President of a country obsessed with neon colors, shoulder pads, and “modern” music. According to sxsw.com, a small group in Austin, Texas gets together to define a purpose and name a cause: South by Southwest.

 This small group held meetings in the offices of The Austin Chronicle. The group shared the opinion that local artists and musicians were in need of exposure outside of Austin. The group actually had “a catholic taste for art and ideas.” They all agreed “inclusiveness and reaching for new things were core values.” So the group decided they wanted to create an event that would allow the rest of the world to see Austin’s own talent.

 In March 1987, instead of the expected 150 participants, there were 700 people wanting to be a part of SXSW. It steadily grew for seven years, and in 1994 two new events were added: Interactive and Film.

 Incorporating a learning aspect as well as an interactive dynamic, South by Southwest aims to encourage and provide a creative outlet for the inventive minds of today and to nurture the generation to follow. The festival itself succeeds in promoting media and entertainment paths for interested youth, which certainly includes the intellectual young women of the Xavier student body. The event itself is meant to help young creative people develop their careers as well as their own independent styles.

 The 2017 SXSW festival was held from March tenth to the nineteenth, but the 2018 event is open to all, and next year’s festival will continue to inspire and thrive in the music capital of the country, Austin, Texas, as it has since 1987. Join the movement, Xavier girls, and embrace the growth that can come from being a part of SXSW.