Maria Rosario Jackson, PhD, chair of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), will visit Atlanta on Thursday, March 2. This will be her first visit to Georgia since becoming chair in January 2022. The main focus of this trip is to explore how arts and culture can strengthen other fields especially in light of President Biden’s Executive Order that encourages the integration of arts and culture into policies, programs, and partnerships throughout the federal government.

Beginning at 9:00 a.m., Chair Jackson will meet with leadership from the Atlanta BeltLine for a tour of the Eastside Trail to learn more about how they are incorporating the arts into their efforts to connect neighborhoods, improve economic opportunity and create equitable and safe spaces for healthy living. NEA has supported projects associated with the BeltLine since its beginning. Earlier this year, the NEA announced a grant of $25,000 to Atlanta BeltLine Partnership to support public art installations, performances, and events.

Following this tour, Chair Jackson will meet with local leaders—including representatives from the Atlanta BeltLine, MARTA, Smart Growth America, and Georgia Council for the Arts—for a roundtable discussion on the intersection of the arts with infrastructure and transportation.

The tour and roundtable discussion are not open to the public but are open to media. Chair Jackson will be available for interviews following the discussion; contact Liz Auclair at [email protected] in advance to request an interview or attend these events.

Thursday, March 2, 2023
9:00-10:00am Walking tour of a portion of Atlanta BeltLine’s Eastside Trail
Location: Tour will begin at Ponce City Market, 675 Ponce De Leon Ave NE, Atlanta
(BeltLine entrance; we will gather at “The Shed,” PCM’s back open-air space facing the BeltLine)

10:00-11:00am Roundtable discussion—Arts and Infrastructure/Transportation
Location: New City’s Offices at Fourth Ward, Tower 2, 405 North Angier Avenue NE, Atlanta

11:00am Interview opportunity with NEA Chair Jackson