But our world has changed in painful ways as well. The safety of many of our beloved communities and artists, especially those who are Black, Indigenous, trans, and disabled, continues to be at risk. Now is a time to come together with personal and collective action that draws from the beauty of all life’s experience. Like any ecosystem, our strength comes from the vastness of diversity, where each differing element plays a crucial and significant role in the overall well-being of the environment. One of the most beautiful aspects of creative work is that it can imagine and create something that did not previously exist. Venus Fest follows this practice of creativity, as it continues to imagine and build realities that do not yet exist, but can come into being through our personal and collective commitments. May it continue to be a creation of the future of music.