Background

Twist Out Cancer is an international non-profit charitable organization that provides psychosocial support to individuals touched by cancer through creative arts programming.  What started in 2012 as a small grass roots online community movement has evolved into an international non-profit organization that has touched over 130,000 people around the world.

Brushes With Cancer is a unique celebration of survivorship and hope that pairs previvors, survivors, fighters, and caregivers, referred to as Inspirations, with accomplished artists working in a variety of mediums.  Those touched by cancer share their ‘twist on cancer’ – stories, feelings and experiences – with the artist, which serves as the inspiration for the art.

The Brushes With Cancer Program in Austin

On Sunday, October 20, 2019, a Brushes With Cancer program was held for the first time in Austin, Texas.  For this program, 26 Inspirations were matched with 25 Artists, all from the Central Texas area.  The gala, which was held at Trinity Hall, was a sold out event that attracted 385 people included Mayor Steve Adler.  To see the unique art work created in honor of those touched by cancer as part of the Brushes With Cancer program in Austin, please click here.  The program was supported locally by numerous sponsors including the Moncrief Cancer Institute at UT Southwestern, Texas Oncology and Seton  Additionally, local media highlighted the relationships that were made as part of the program with these interviews on CBS Austin and FOX7.

The program raised $82,000, but most importantly, it turned out to be a meaningful moment for all of the Inspirations and Artists that poured their hearts into the program.  We are now proud to announce that Brushes With Cancer will be returning to Austin this October  The program will again be brought to Austin by Alana Dugandzic, who is a graduate from the University of Texas at Austin, a two-time cancer survivor, and now lives in Austin after she was an Inspiration at the 2012 Brushes With Cancer program in Chicago.  Alana will be working with Erin Greganti, Brushes with Cancer Artist to plan the 2020 program.

Applications are now available for those touched by cancer Inspirations and artists to be part of the 2020 Brushes With Cancer program in Austin.  We are also looking for sponsors to support the growth of our programs locally..  If you are interested in becoming involved in this transformative program, please reach out to Alana Dugandzic at alana@twistoutcancer.org.