Eric Nakamura and Saelee Oh, from Scion Installation 6 Tour: Video

Last fall, I was stunned when I saw that one of my favorite films of all time, the highly controversial 1990 documentary Paris is Burning, was being screened at a special, free event sponsored by Toyota’s Scion. The year before, I had also attended a Scion-sponsored contemporary art exhibition tour that stopped in Austin. The latest incarnation of this corporate sponsored project is returning again in March to Okay Mountain, one of the best young galleries in the city.

I rarely watch television (except virtually ad-free on the internet), read few print magazines and rarely take a second glance at ads on Facebook or other social networking sites, and I can’t imagine how corporations are reaching my demographic these days. But I have been consistently impressed by Scion’s commitment to the arts, sponsoring events that actually matter to me and helping young artists and filmmakers gain greater national exposure.

This particular approach seems highly relevant to Amex ZYNC’s Social Pack. I think the greatest way to reach me and my friends would be by taking an interest in cultural events that are “off the beaten path” and that show an actual commitment to innovative, creative artwork. If the Social Pack took the time to organize events that featured local exciting, emerging artists, bands and performances, I have no doubt that my peers would take a strong interest in the card.