Birmingham nonprofit KultureCity was recognized as a finalist in the SXSW Innovation Awards for 2024.
The awards recognize "the most exciting creative developments in the connected world, celebrating a variety of technological advancements, achievements and discoveries," according to the SXSW website.
KultureCity is an organization with a mission to create sensory accessibility and inclusion for those with invisible disabilities. The organization educates venue staff and grants certification to locations that implement sensory inclusive modifications. Additionally, it offers a mobile application for both Apple and Android devices that features a list of sensory-friendly venues, aiming to aid individuals with sensory processing disorders.
The nonprofit was recognized in the Community Empowerment category, which spotlights projects that help empower underserved groups and people around the world, along with other organizations from the United States, Canada, Germany and South Korea.
KultureCity is one of five finalists in its category which were chosen to exhibit their projects at the seventh annual Innovation Awards Finalist Showcase during SXSW 2024. Finalist judges will determine the winner in each category and the Best of Show. SXSW audiences attending the finalist showcase will also vote to determine the winner of the People’s Choice award.
Winners will be unveiled and presented with awards at the 26th annual SXSW Innovation Awards Ceremony on March 11 at the Austin Convention Center.
In December 2022, KultureCity also received one of three Sharecare Awards of distinction presented in 2022. Michelle Kong and Julian Maha, along with NBA Hall of Famer Dominique Wilkins, accepted the the Outstanding Foundation Award.
KultureCity has gained worldwide recognition for its sensory inclusive drive to support people with invisible disabilities, including autism, which affected the founders' son.
Partners and supporters of the nonprofit have been growing on a national scale. As of 2022, supporters included Imagine Dragons, Jason Isbell, Danny Glover, Ken Jeong and Coldplay, which took KultureCity alongside its tour calendar.
