The Culture Beat: On the pulse of creativity

Welcome to 2026's first edition of The Culture Beat: your guide to the projects shaping collective creativity. This month, we’re spotlighting makers, musicians, and creators across music, food, art, and more—each project bringing fresh ideas and inspiration to the season.

PROJECTS WE LOVE

The Lost River Sessions

BY ZACHARY LUCKY

Intimate live recordings from a freezing Kentucky barn—folk songs spanning Lucky's career, stripped down and raw.

NORMALTOWN

BY TIMOTHY DAVIS

Photographs, essays, and a 45 RPM record examining how the camera confronts difficult memories from childhood.

Sup Dawgz Food Truck: Feeding Community in Amarillo, TX

BY AUSTIN ULEN

This retro-themed food truck turns every meal into an act of kindness with community outreach and a buy-one-give-one program.

Skáld Bakery - From Market to Brick & Mortar in St. Louis, MO

BY KYLE SHELBY

A community bakery takes the next step: help bring organic sourdough, Danish rolls, and fresh baguettes to a walk-in shop.

Night of the Hunter - Soundtrack

BY ROGER FEIGELSON

A new recording of Walter Schumann's chilling score to a beloved 1955 thriller, brought to life by expert musicians.

In My Nature and In Yours

BY JOLIE WING

A debut album that shares stories of life, companionship, and joy, tracked completely live with some good friends.

MAH BBQ Sauce: Sweet, Spicy & Versatile

BY HOSIJEOL

Sweet first, bold spice next—a multi-use BBQ sauce made with natural ingredients for dipping, grilling, and everything in between.

Dapper Notes 10th Anniversary

BY ENON AVITAL

Celebrate a decade of handbound beauty with limited edition notebooks and a virtual bookmaking workshop with Enon.

Texas Soul

BY MICAH EDWARDS

17 songs, one father-and-son road trip film, and a love letter to the Lone Star State from Houston's own Micah Edwards.

Orry Yarn

BY TILDE OLSEN McBRIDE

Scottish wool with attitude: 16 colors inspired by light and weather, 15 knitting kits, and a shop's boldest ambition yet.

WHERE CREATIVITY GATHERS

Make 100: Limited Runs. Unlimited Heart.

January 1-31

Your big chance to back a small project. Each January, creators embrace creative constraints and launch wildly imaginative ideas limited to just 100 rewards. Think concrete birds, tiny printing presses, mobsters reimagined as animals—seriously. Browse the quirky, the whimsical, and the downright delightful before they're gone →

[WEBINAR] How to Fund Your Short Film

Tuesday, January 20 at 1 PM ET

Every year, filmmakers from around the world join Long Story Short to debut their projects and reach new audiences. In this webinar, Senior Outreach Lead of Film, Taylor K. Shaw, will show you how to build a compelling short film campaign, from project setup to storytelling to audience engagement. Save your spot  →