NEW YORK, March 7, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- When South by Southwest® (SXSW®) Conferences and Festivals kicks-off a nine-day marketplace of ideas, relationships and products for the music, interactive media and film industries, one unlikely new sponsor—HGTV—will open its doors at The Studio by HGTV, a premier event venue for interactive activities and live music performances at 304 W. 4th Street between Lavaca and Guadalupe Street in Austin. Viewed by many as a launching pad for new creative content, SXSW fits with HGTV's mission to seek out inspiration and ideas from the world's most creative minds.  In addition, as a sponsor of the Flatstock 33 poster event at the Austin Convention Center, HGTV will support a showcase for more than 100 international artists.

"We're a creative brand that is all about new ideas, entertainment and style, so of course we had to be at SXSW!" said Denise Conroy-Galley, senior vice president, marketing and creative services, HGTV.  "When you consider the role that accessible art plays in a home's design aesthetic and the role that music plays in setting the mood for experiences in the home, you understand why SXSW's Flatstock 33 and music venue are such organic fits for HGTV.  These are perfect opportunities for us to connect with viewers in unexpected ways and for us to engage with other creative, forward-thinking, brands."   

The Studio by HGTV, which opens on Sunday, March 11, is a former bar that will be transformed by design rock stars, Bob and Cortney Novogratz, of the HGTV's Home By Novogratz. Known for their eclectic and inventive style, the Novogratz will redesign the indoor and outdoor areas of the venue to appeal to the festival's young aficionados. HGTV also will invite fans to help create a crowd-sourced mural on the venue exterior.

In celebration of the launch of HGTVGardens.com, HGTV.com will host a Garden Party at the venue on Sunday, March 11, at 9 p.m. CT. Special guests will include the network's newest host, landscape professional and Bachelorette fan favorite Chris Lambton, along with popular HGTV.com star and GirlsGoneChild blogger, Rebecca Woolf.

The Studio by HGTV will host an electrifying lineup of live bands, including "bands to watch" Say Hi and Oh Mercy when the Music Festival begins on Wednesday, March 14. HGTV will add some of its own star power to the evening with the Austin-based Property Brothers, Drew and Jonathan Scott, and Texans Amie and Jolie Sykes, a.k.a, the Junk Gypsies.

During each night of the live music festival, HGTV will offer free limited-edition screen print posters from several hot artists. Renowned screen print artist Andy MacDougall will print and distribute the artwork on site each night while supplies last.

Fans can follow HGTV's activities at SXSW on Twitter at #studioHGTV and on Facebook at HGTV.com/SXSW.

About HGTV

America's leading home and lifestyle brand, HGTV features a top-rated cable network that is distributed to more than 99 million U.S. households and the HGTV website, HGTV.com, the nation's leading online home-and-garden destination that attracts an average of four million unique visitors per month.  The brand also includes the HGTV HOME consumer products line which showcases exclusive collections of paint, flooring, soft goods and other home-oriented products, as well as HGTV Magazine, a new home and lifestyle publication published in partnership with Hearst Magazines.

SOURCE HGTV