An unofficial South by Southwest music showcase in Austin raised money for the Texas Prison Education Initiative, which provides free college courses to women incarcerated at the Gregory S. Coleman Unit in Lockhart.

UT Austin assistant mathematics professor Nicholas Reyes, who performs as Nicky Christmas, began volunteering with the program in 2019. He has organized the annual benefit for four years and began directing proceeds to the education initiative in 2022.

The Texas Prison Education Initiative offers courses taught by volunteer graduate students and university professors. Program coordinator Dorothy Rau told KUT that about 100 students participate each semester. Donations help pay for supplies, enrollment fees and the costs required for students to receive university credit and a transcript.

According to KUT, past showcases raised between $600 and more than $1,000. Roughly two-thirds of the proceeds go to participating musicians and the remainder to the education program, although bands sometimes donate their share.

For incarcerated students, credits may support continued education or job applications after release. The program’s reliance on donations also shows how much prison-education access can depend on community support.

Source: KUT — SXSW benefit and Texas Prison Education Initiative.