A LETTER FROM THE CREATOR
The idea for this project began with presence; showing up, observing, and recognizing something quietly powerful taking place. Through presence, I discovered a beautiful space shaped by people, culture, and shared experience.
As a Latino artist, this project is driven by my personal connection to the movement's roots and my aspiration to celebrate culture through visual storytelling. The goal is not to impose a narrative, but to listen, document, and create work that captures the soul and humanity of those who make Barrio Club everything it is. Through film, photography, and community gathering, this project seeks to preserve a moment while amplifying the impact of a movement.
This project is created with the belief that we have an unequivocal responsibility to document and share culture authentically, as to counter the tokenization and exploitation that too often accompany moments of cultural visibility. It is also shaped by the understanding that in our current social and political climate, community-driven cultural spaces deserve to be protected, celebrated, and amplified as beacons of pride, resilience, and collective identity.
This proposal is meticulously prepared to ensure the project is executed with intention, integrity, and respect for the community it represents. Moreover, it is crafted to deliver meaningful cultural, artistic, and social impact. Ultimately, this project presents an opportunity to exist in a space that is integral to my identity and a medium through which I can exercise my responsibility as an artist to share the stories of my community as they are lived, felt, and passed down.
PROJECT OVERVIEW
Barrio Club de Futbol is a community-powered street soccer club based in East Austin. Through regularly scheduled open plays, accessible tournaments, and the cultivation of community through art-centric collaborations, BCF provides a space for people to gather and connect through sport. Founded by Edgar Lopez, Barrio Club is completely self-funded, leveraging occasional partnerships and collaborations to keep events accessible to the community.
Barrio Club de Futbol is not only defined by what it does, but what it represents—a grassroots social and cultural movement. Embedded in the history of street soccer are values of informality, community, expression, and the belief that soccer does not belong solely to institutionalized systems. Barrio Club carries this tradition forward by dismantling the constructs and barriers that hinder accessibility and expression. As a result, BCF has become a space for celebrating diversity, identity, and community.
At its core, this project aims to amplify the cultural movement and its impact through visual storytelling. Following the journey of Barrio Club over the course of several months, this project will document its evolution, challenges, and the moments that define the movement. Through transparency and the exploration of a raw, human-centric narrative, this project seeks to amplify and elevate the community-driven initiatives, relationships, and lived experiences that transcend Barrio Club de Futbol beyond a game.
PROJECT GOALS
001:
ART, CULTURE, STORYTELLING
At its core, this project seeks to amplify a cultural movement and its impact on community through intentional visual storytelling, culminating in immersive galleries and public events that create space for connection, reflection, and shared experience.
THE CONCEPT
The project will culminate in three immersive public experiences that bring the community together while celebrating and sharing the work.
THE DOCUMENTARY
The film follows the journey and growth of Barrio Club de Futbol through three interwoven stories. At its center is founder Edgar Lopez, whose vision and persistence shape the club’s trajectory and purpose. Alongside this, the documentary focuses on the stories of individual players, capturing the interrelation between the game, identity, and community. Finally, the film turns outward to the audience and the surrounding community, illustrating how BCF functions as a shared cultural space.
THE
GALLERY
The photo gallery will serve as a visual archive of Barrio Club de Futbol, capturing the culture, energy, and human connections that define the movement. Through a series of still images, centered on portraiture and action shots, the gallery will document moments both on and off the pitch—revealing street soccer not only as a game, but as a social and cultural phenomenon rooted in place. More importantly, the portraiture series will seek to illustrate the relationship between sport and identity through individual storytelling.
THE
EVENT
The watch party will function as a communal gathering that brings the project full circle, transforming the documentary from a viewed experience into a shared one. Designed as an extension of Barrio Club de Futbol’s ethos, the event invites players, families, collaborators, and the broader East Austin community to come together in celebration. Through the collective viewing of the film, the surrounding photo gallery, and informal moments of conversation and connection, the event reinforces Barrio Club’s role as a cultural space shaped by presence, participation, and community ownership. More than a screening, the watch party serves as a moment of recognition—honoring the people, stories, and relationships that make Barrio Club de Futbol more than a game.
CREATIVE DIRECTION
SUBJECTS, GALLERY DIRECTION, AND PHOTOGRAPHIC STYLE
DOCUMENTARY INSPIRATION
Timestamp: 0:00 - 1:48
The opening sequence of this documentary inspires tone-setting and cultural framing. Through scale, pacing, and the inclusion of diverse subjects, it communicates soccer’s deep cultural significance. This project will adopt a similar approach by capturing not only players, but also the surrounding audience and environment—recognizing that community presence is as essential as the game itself. This emphasis on cultural storytelling strengthens audience connection while positioning the project for potential features in creative and cultural publications. Most importantly, however, this focus will facilitate the connection between the project and the community.
Timestamp: 0:00 - 5:00
The Dreamville documentary serves as a primary reference for both structure and style. The use of handheld videography, integrated still imagery, and layered voiceover creates an intimate, process-driven narrative that places the audience inside the story rather than as distant observers. This approach—raw, authentic, and grounded in culture—aligns closely with the ethos of Barrio Club de Futbol. The transparency of process combined with cultural impact will guide this project’s visual language, highlighting the growth of Barrio Club over the course of the year and helping establish a presence that resonates within Austin and beyond.
PROJECT MANAGEMENT
SCOPE
This project encompasses the research, documentation, production, and public presentation of a multidisciplinary storytelling initiative. Over the course of several months, the scope includes the creation of a short documentary film, a curated photo gallery, and a culminating public watch party and community event.
The documentary will involve observational filming, interviews, and environmental footage that follow the organization’s growth and impact through the perspectives of its founder, participating players, and the surrounding community. In parallel, the photographic component will produce a body of still images that document the culture, energy, and human connections that define Barrio Club de Futbol, presented through one or more public-facing galleries.
The project will conclude with a free, accessible community event that brings together the film screening, photo exhibition, and communal gathering, reinforcing the project’s emphasis on shared experience and collective ownership. All deliverables are designed to remain accessible to the community, while also serving as a lasting visual and cultural record of Barrio Club de Futbol and its impact.
PROCESS
1. Research & Planning
2. Documentation & Production
3. Presentation & Engagement
TIMELINE
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January 2026 - June: Documentation & Production
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July - September: Finalization, Post-Production, & Curation
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October: Marketing, Promotion, & Final Preparations
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November: Presentation & Engagement
BUDGET
The project’s core production costs are currently supported through existing resources, including owned equipment, volunteer labor, and accessible venue spaces. As a result, the foundational execution of the project does not require upfront funding.
Additional external funding and sponsorship, if secured, will be allocated toward enhancing production quality through upgraded equipment, materials, and presentation needs. These supplemental costs will be pursued through sponsorships, partnerships, and donations.
Estimated Supplemental Budget Range: $5,000–$7,000
RISKS AND MITIGATION
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Community Trust & Misrepresentation
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Risk: Misrepresentation or lack of trust could impact participation and authenticity.
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Mitigation: Employ an ethnographic, community-centered approach rooted in transparency, integration, and ongoing dialogue, ensuring participants are accurately represented and actively involved in how their stories are told.
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Limited Resources & Budget Constraints
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Risk: As a largely self-funded project, resource limitations could affect production scale or timelines.
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Mitigation: Prioritize core deliverables, leverage in-kind support and partnerships, and maintain a contingency budget to address unexpected costs.
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Scheduling & Participant Availability
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Risk: Changes in participant availability or event schedules could limit access to key moments or subjects.
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Mitigation: Maintain a flexible production schedule, attend recurring events consistently, and identify multiple participants to ensure continuity and coverage.
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