Build H.E.X. — A Home for Dark Art, Sound, and Community
We found a space. Potentially.
The next step is to lock it down.
Your support will help decide if H.E.X. becomes brick and mortar.
Let’s build this. Together.
Who We Are
“And pitch-black, in the darkness, we all looked the same.”
— Pablo Neruda, Winter Encounter
H.E.X. Collective LLC is a fertile ground where the displaced, the divergent, and the alternative gather—a sanctuary, not a gate to be kept.
We are a non-religious, femme and queer-led collective.
More than an organization—we are a refusal.
A refusal of systems that edit, censor, and dictate creative expression—especially for artists working outside what is comfortable, marketable, or easily categorized.
H.E.X. exists for artists, musicians, and creators who do not fit anywhere else.
For those working in the dark, the strange, the irreverent, the anti-establishment—whose work is often overlooked not because it lacks value, but because it makes people uncomfortable.
Why H.E.X.
We chose H.E.X. as both name and spell. Its roots are in Latin:
Hortus — the garden, a place of cultivation and wild growth
Est — “is,” the act of becoming (blooming..healing)
Xenodochium — a refuge for strangers
Together: The Garden Is a Refuge.
This is not metaphor.
This is the structure we are building.
A place where art grows from exile. Naturally.
Why We’re Crowdfunding
Right now, H.E.X. exists without a permanent home.
We’ve built something real through pop-ups, shared labor, and persistence—but that model is temporary. It limits what we can create, who we can reach, and how we can sustain ourselves.
We have now found a space.
This is the turning point—where H.E.X. either becomes permanent, or remains something fleeting.
We are choosing to build something that lasts.
What This Space Will Be
This is not a single-purpose venue.
It is a working, evolving ecosystem.
Art Studio — shared workspaces for artists across mediums
Gallery — exhibitions that don’t get shown elsewhere
Retail Front — a place for artists to sell their work directly through flat dues, not a high commission
Music Venue — noise, post-punk, and experimental sound that has a hard time finding an audience
Classes & Skill Sharing — artist-led workshops and education
Community Training — harm reduction, mutual aid, and real-world knowledge
We will begin with weekend hours, growing sustainably as the space stabilizes.
Why This Matters
Too often, spaces decide what is acceptable before artists even walk in.
Work that is too dark, too political, too strange, or too honest is filtered out before it has a chance to exist publicly.
H.E.X. is built for that work.
For the artists who have been misrepresented, overlooked, or pushed out of traditional spaces—not because of lack of skill, but because of discomfort.
H.E.X. is committed to being a space that is safe and affirming for femme and marginalized people, and their allies—without compromising the raw, challenging nature of the work itself.
Where the Funds Go
We believe in transparency. This is what you are helping us build:
$18,000 — One full year of rent (stability from day one)
$3,000 — Basic buildout (lighting, fixtures, walls, signage)
$2,000 — Deposits, licensing, and startup costs
$2,000 — Operational cushion for the first months
Total Goal: $25,000
This is not excess.
This is what it takes to open the doors—and keep them open.
Your Role
This is not a donation.
This is an act of creation.
By supporting H.E.X., you are not funding a business—you are helping build a space that would not exist otherwise.
A refuge.
A structure.
A living thing.
Closing
Like a night garden, we do not fear the dark.
We know what many spaces do not:
Black is not the absence of color.
It is the totality of it.
And in the dark is where healing happens and creation begins.
Ways to Support H.E.X.
Every contribution helps build this space.
For those who want a sense of how support may take shape, we’ve outlined a few ways people are choosing to contribute.
• Around $25 — Supporting the foundation of the space and being part of its beginning
• Around $50 — Helping bring materials and small physical elements of the space to life
• Around $100 — Supporting early programming, events, and community access
• Around $250 — Helping build out the space and sustain artist-led work
• Around $500+ — Supporting classes, equipment, and deeper community infrastructure
• Around $1,000+ — Helping secure the long-term foundation of H.E.X. and ensure its permanence
All contributions, at any level, directly support the creation of this space. You are the foundation.
