Birmingham nonprofit KultureCity won the SXSW People’s Choice award Monday night at the South by Southwest Innovation Awards ceremony in Austin, Texas.
KultureCity, an organization with a mission to create sensory accessibility and inclusion for those with invisible disabilities, won the award after being named a finalist in the Community Empowerment category in January.
The SXSW awards recognize "the most exciting creative developments in the connected world, celebrating a variety of technological advancements, achievements and discoveries," according to its website. Winners were announced in 11 categories, along with Best in Show and People’s Choice, and were selected by expert judges and festival goers.
"Championing the spirit of Birmingham, we're thrilled and honored to carry the essence of our city into the future,” said Julian Maha, co-founder of KultureCity. “Winning the South by Southwest Innovation Award for KultureCity is not just a victory for us, but a celebration of our community's unwavering dedication to inclusion and acceptance for those with disabilities. Together, we are setting a new standard for innovation and acceptance, rooted in the heart of Birmingham."
KultureCity 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.
In December 2022, KultureCity also received one of three Sharecare Awards of distinction presented in 2022. Maha and Michelle Kong, along with NBA Hall of Famer Dominique Wilkins, accepted 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.
