We are thrilled to spotlight Sydney Galindo, founder of ARTS—Artist Resistance Through Solidarity, based in Las Vegas, Nevada. A proud Filipina and Indigenous curator and writer, Sydney is the visionary behind the ARTS Foundation—a space built to uplift BIPOC artists through unapologetic storytelling, cultural reclamation, and radical solidarity. Her curatorial work dismantles gatekeeping, insisting that institutions not only include marginalized voices, but also answer to them.
As our powerful Creator of the Week, Sydney speaks on the urgent need to amplify artist agency—especially now, as federal arts funding continues to be slashed under the current administration. ARTS is stepping up to fill the gap, aiming to provide larger grants to artists who are losing support elsewhere.
She also shares more about her project Unseen Territories, an upcoming documentary project exploring BIPOC artists and their creative lineages. With an active Indiegogo campaign, every donation, share, or shout-out helps fuel this crucial work.
Thank you for your interest in being featured! Please introduce yourself to our readers.
Hey, I’m Sydney Galindo, founder of ARTS—Artist Resistance Through Solidarity. I started ARTS to give direct support to BIPOC creatives through microgrants—without the strings, hoops, or invasive questions. We don’t ask for legal status, financial records, or long applications. We trust artists to know what they need. That’s what ARTS is about: respect, autonomy, and access.
Tell us about your background and the road that led you to pursuing your chosen art medium.
I come from a background shaped by creativity and community, where people were doing incredible, necessary work, but still couldn’t access basic support. I saw how much red tape and gatekeeping existed in the funding world, especially for artists who didn’t fit a certain mold. I got tired of watching folks get shut out over paperwork. So I started ARTS as an alternative—something that actually centers care and trust.
How does art impact your life, and what role does it play in shaping your personal expression and identity?
Art is how I make sense of the world. It’s also how I stay connected to people and movements I care about. Supporting artists is a form of expression for me—it’s a way to push back against scarcity, erasure, and control. At its core, art is about possibility, and I want artists to have the freedom to explore that without being policed or surveilled.
Tell us about a memorable collaboration that has contributed to your artistic journey and growth.
One of the most meaningful projects we’re currently working on is Unseen Territories—a documentary and site-responsive exhibition based on Southern Paiute land in Las Vegas. It brings together 14 local BIPOC artists to explore the connections between land, identity, and spatial memory. Through personal flag-making, ephemeral installations, and collective performance, the artists are reclaiming space and challenging the colonial symbols that still shape the city’s landscape.
What makes this project so powerful is that it doesn’t just critique—it reimagines. It centers ancestral knowledge, lived experience, and real brown joy. It’s a refusal and a proposal at the same time—a way to open space for belonging, sovereignty, and public narratives shaped by us. Supporting this kind of work, where artists have full agency and are shaping the story themselves, is exactly why ARTS exists.
What advice would you give to other artists pursuing a professional career in the arts?
Define what “professional” means to you. You don’t have to prove your worth to institutions that don’t see you. Make the work you need to make. Find people who get it. Protect your peace, your process, and your autonomy. And remember—gatekeeping isn’t a reflection of your value, it’s a reflection of their limits.
Looking ahead, are there any upcoming projects or events that you’re looking forward to and how can our community support you?
With more federal arts funding being cut under the current administration, it’s more important than ever that we step up to fill the gap. We want to grow ARTS so we can provide larger grants to artists who are losing support elsewhere.
We’re also working on the Unseen Territories documentary, and have an Indiegogo campaign to help fund it and keep supporting artists. Donations, sharing our work, or just cheering on the artists we fund all help us get closer to those goals.
What is your interpretation of a Raw Femme?
To me, a Raw Femme is all about authentic, unapologetic expression, showing up fully as yourself, with all your truths and complexities. It’s about embracing that raw, real energy and using it to create, inspire, and support others who do the same. It’s a powerful form of resistance and healing, especially in spaces where women and LGBTQ+ artists have been historically marginalized or overlooked.
Being a Raw Femme means not only honoring your own voice but also lifting up others, building community and solidarity so everyone can thrive. It’s a fierce commitment to visibility, truth, and shared power.