We asked some of the city’s leading artists and creatives to tell us about how they decided to pursue an artistic or creative career. We’ve shared some highlights below.

Daniel T Mason | Recording Artist, Songwriter & Actor

I decided to pursue a creative career because I love expressing myself through singing and songwriting. I love the response that I get from my friends and family when I share my music. I’ve unlocked new parts of myself that I didn’t even recognize over the years. Singing and writing songs brings me so much peace and I write things that are personal to me. All I’ve ever wanted to do was sing the songs I wrote for millions of people. Read more>>

Gerald Wallace | Entrepreneur

Growing up my mom and grandpa always bought me cologne lots of it and I just fell in love with smelling good and plus my mom and granny said people like a man that smells good, so that always stuck in my head. Getting in my 20s I started to shop around myself to see what can I do for myself and others to be happy and smelling good and looking good is the key. I started to get my own smell goods and started to doing my own mixing. Read more>>

KeithKNOWS ……… | Founder, Creator, Cultural Warrior

I have always immersed myself in the arts and culture world, it came organically natural for me. Being a creative allows you to walk in your own truth which is important to me. Read more>>

Jordy Antonio | Filmmaker/Artist

I decided to pursue an artistic lifestyle because I had a story to share. Film was the only outlet where I felt I could truly express myself freely. The process of putting my stories on a screen and seeing it from a different perspective fueled a passion for this specific art form. I realized at an early age that I enjoy conceptualizing stories about current topics within my environment. I want others to see my vision and creativity on a larger spectrum that manifests the big and small concepts of life through my eyes. Given that I tend to be quite the extrovert in regards to social issues, I wanted to publicly address opinions and thoughts that not everyone is comfortable speaking up on. Read more>>