PRESS KIT
In 1986, a visionary named Michael Lomax, the Chairman of the Fulton County Board of Commissioners (and the current CEO of the United Negro College Fund), had a compelling and bold idea…
TO CREATE A NATIONAL FESTIVAL IN ATLANTA WHOSE PRIMARY FOCUS IS TO PRESENT AND CELEBRATE THE ARTS AND CULTURE OF PEOPLE OF AFRICAN DESCENT.
With major funding from the Fulton County Board of Commissioners under the guidance of Fulton County Arts & Culture Arts, major support from corporations, independent foundations and government entities, the National Black Arts Festival (NBAF) was
introduced in the summer of 1988 and became an enduring gift to the residents of Fulton County… and to the nation.
Its mission to engage, cultivate and educate diverse audiences about the arts and culture of the African Diaspora
FAMILY & COMMUNITY
and provide opportunities for artistic and creative expression.
After 25 years, NBAF is a cultural leader renowned worldwide for showcasing the very best of Black art and culture in all arts disciplines.
For 25 years, NBAF has connected artists, businesses, civic organizations, neighborhoods and diverse audiences through our programs. Recognizing that art is key to providing community with a positive
avenue for self-improvement and enrichment; NBAF uplifts, inspires and connects communities all around the world through its world class programming.
2013 NATIONAL BLACK ARTS FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS
25th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION … JULY 6 – SEPT 14
This year’s Festival is a three-month long celebration, unlike any other we have presented. In addition to some of our signature programming, such as the Legends Celebration and Family Day, we will present a dynamic series of programs that highlight emerging ideas, projects and artists; as well as fresh perspectives on the art and culture of the African Diaspora. View the full schedule of events at NBAF.org.
2013 Highlights
Unexpected Encounters
NBAF Gala: A Love Note To Broadway featuring a special performance by Jennifer Holliday
NBAF Family Book Fair
Spread Love – NBAF Edition at Grant Park
A Question of Relevance: Black Culture and Expression in the 21st Century
Turner Voices First Glance Teen Arts Competition
Artists who have graced our stages over the last 25 years include
Alice Walker
Alfre Woodard
Alvin Ailey
Amiri Baraka
Angelique Kidjo
August Wilson
Avery Brooks
Benny Andrews
Bill T. Jones
Blair Underwood
Cassandra Wilson
Charles Dutton
Cicely Tyson
Cornel West
Danny Glover
David Driskell
Elizabeth Catlett
Frank McComb
Gladys Knight
Glynn Turman
Gordon Parks
Harry Belafonte
Hugh Masekela
John Amos
Judith Jamison
Kenny Leon
Louis Delsarte
Marcia Bittencourt
Max Roach
Maya Angelou
Mario Van Peeble
Melvin Van Peebles
Nancy Wilson
National Ballet de Guinea
Nick Ashford
Nikki Giovanni
Ntozake Shange
Ossie Davis
Pearl Cleage
PHILADANCO
Phylicia Rashad
Radcliffe Bailey
Roberta Flack
Ron K. Brown/Evidence
Ruby Dee
Sheryl Lee Ralph
Sonia Sanchez
Spike Lee
Susan Taylor
The Neville Brothers
The O’Jays
Tito Puente
Urban Bush Women
Valerie Simpson
Wynton Marsalis
Youssou N'Dour
NBAF has presented over 1,000 artists to more than 2,000,000 people over the last two decades. Renowned worldwide for showcasing the very best of the culture during our summer festival, NBAF hosts more than 300,000 patrons every year and serves more than 20,000 children and families annually through ou r signature Education and Family programs.
NBAF AWARDS & RECOGNITION AT A GLANCE
• Atlanta Business Chronicle’s “Who’s Who in Hospitality” Award for Arts and Entertainment
• Fulton County Arts Council First Annual Arts Award
• Selected as Hub site for National Dance Project by New England Foundation for the Arts. Neil Barclay serves as NDP Hub Site representative for 2011
• Atlanta Business Chronicle’s “Who’s Who in Hospitality” Award for Arts and Entertainment (Neil Barclay)
• Atlanta Business League – Women’s Hall of Fame (Stephanie Hughley)
• Wal-Mart “Profiles in Pride” – Recognized in Wal-Mart’s Black History booklet (NBAF and Stephanie Hughley)
• William Dawson Award presented by Association of Performing Arts Presenters
• Hosea Williams Award presented by Georgia State University to Dr. Collette Hopkins, Director of NBAF’s Education and Public Programs
• MAACC - ALMA Class–Presenter
• Georgia State Senate Resolution highlighting accomplishments with the National Black Arts Festival
• Houston International Festival–Houston, Texas
• Women’s Forum of Georgia–Keynote speaker
• Penn Institute for Urban Research; Presenter–University of Pennsylvania
• Atlanta Metropolitan Black Chamber of Commerce–Presenter
• Atlanta Business Chronicle’s “Who’s Who in Hospitality”
• Fulton County Proclamation–Fulton County Board of Commissioners
• Congressional Recognition of Atlanta’s National Black Arts Festival–Congressman John Lewis
• NBAF selected to participate in Leading for the Future (LFF)
• Local Community Service Award–Spelman College
• Atlanta Convention and Business Bureau Hospitality Hall of Fame
• Georgia Arts & Entertainment Legacy Awards–GAELA
• Diverse Leadership Conference–Emory University–Presenter
• Kimmel Center – Philadelphia, PA–Presenter
• Atlanta Tribune–10th Annual Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
• Georgia Center for Nonprofits–CEO Central 60 Attended Conference on scholarship
• Creative Loafing Critic’s Pick - Best Annual Event for 2006
• Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., East Point/College Park Alumnae Chapter Arts and Letters Committee
• Stephanie S. Hughley "Atlanta's Top 100 Black Women of Influence".
• Atlanta Tribune Magazine 20 for 20 Promotion award, in which they adopt 20 non-profit organizations for the 2007 year and support their programs.
• Atlanta Tribune Magazine’s 20 for 20 Promotion (Adopt 20 nonprofit organizations)
• MAJ Hero/Shero for the 2006-2007 Year–M. Agnes Jones Elementary School; Atlanta Public Schools
• Kuumba Award–East Point/College Park Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
• Atlanta Magazine–“Best of Atlanta”
• Historymakers
• Woman of the Year Award–Atlanta Woman Magazine (Stephanie Hughley)
• Southeast Tourism Society’s Top 20 Events for the month of July
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Chair Sonya M. Halpern
Vice-Chair Charmaine Ward Director, Community Affairs, Georgia -Pacific
NBAF BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Secretary Stephanie M. Russell
Treasurer John W. Brewer Chairman/CEO Vantage Capital Group
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Julee Brunson Director of Business Development, Georgia’s Own Credit Union
Cecilie Lilletvedt Goodman Vice President Community Relations Manager, Bank of America
Deanna Hamilton President & CEO, Circle One
Heather Vincent Holley
Lolita Browning Jackson Region External Affairs Manager, Georgia Power
Holly Mattingly Global Project Director, Coca- Cola Freestyle
Chanda Hurt Moran Senior Vice President, Atlanta Business Banking, Wells Fargo Company
Deborah Sudbury Attorney, Jones Day
Ronald W. Wilson President, Ron Wilson & Associates, Inc.
EX-OFFICIOS:
M. Erwin Carter
Interim Managing Director
Evern Cooper Epps Former President, UPS Foundation
PROFESSIONAL TEAM
EXECUTIVE
Sonya M. Halpern, Interim Leadership
M. Erwin Carter, Interim Managing Director
ARTS MANAGEMENT
Brett E. Egan, Director, John F. Kennedy Center, DeVos Institute of Arts Management
Shay Stevens, Fellow, John F. Kennedy Center, DeVos Institute of Arts Management
DEVELOPMENT
Judy Hanenkrat, Director, Special Events
MARKETING
Darlene Hamilton, Marketing/Communications Consultant
Nikki Barjon, The Barjon Group, Public Relations
Troy Lipscomb, TLDCO, Graphic Design and Consulting Services
ARTISTIC PRODUCERS, CURATORS, AND COORDINATORS
Leatrice Ellzy, CEO, Beatrix Moss
Stephanie Scott, Production
Ravi Windom, Turner Voices: First Glance Coordinator
NBAF DIGITAL TEAM
Tracy Murrell, Digital Coordinator
Jonathan Johnson, Videographer/Editor
FESTIVAL MANAGEMENT
Rebekah Jones, Festival Manager
Jhana Grant, Stage Manager
NBAF VOLUNTEERS
Keith Hill, Volunteer Coordinator
Over 250 volunteers work with NBAF each year.
Meet Sonya M. Halpern
“As we reflect on NBAF’s impact in the community over the last 25 years, we look forward to the future with a bold vision and strategy for continued success that is anchored in artistic programming that fulfills our mission. ”
Sonya was elected Chair of the NBAF Board of Directors in April 2013, after serving on the Board for three years. She has devoted much of her philanthropic efforts in recent years to NBAF, one of the oldest African -American arts and cultural institutions in this country celebrating and promoting the work of people of African descent.
Sonya is a freelance consultant with an emphasis in media strategy and event planning. Using her strong communica tion, collaboration, negotiation and organizational skills she successfully plans and produces conferences, conventions, fundraising events, or meetings for her clients.
In addition to her consulting projects and raising her two young sons, Sonya has embraced leadership roles in the organizations for which she is involved. In September 2011, President Obama appointed Sonya to the President’s Advisory Committee on the Arts, a national board which plays a valuable role in sustaining the nation’s premier cultural center, the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts.
Before starting her own consulting practice, Sonya spent over a decade in advertising sales and marketing at several of the country’s leading media companies including ESPN, Inc., The Walt Disney Company and Cox Enterprises. Her experience includes cable television, print and digital media. During her tenure at these organizations, she held positions of responsibility in all aspects of media sales including local and national business development, sales management, strategic planning and analysis, inventory control and sales training.
NBAF Board Chair
Atlanta Affiliations
• Member of the Atlanta Judicial Commission, an appointment made by Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed.
• Former Board member of Habitat for Humanity (South Fulton Atlanta chapter)
• Served on the Board of the Grant Park Cooperative Preschool.
Sonya holds a Master of Business Administration degree in Marketing from the University of Hartford’s International MBA program where she studied in Paris, France and a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communications from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
NATIONAL BLACK ARTS FESTIVAL
P.O. Box 20117
Atlanta, GA 30325
404.730.7315 (main)
404.730.7104 (fax)
MEDIA INQUIRIES:
Nikki Barjon
Media Relations
404.514.9992
nikki@thebarjongroup.com
Darlene Hamilton
Marketing
404.730.7315 dhamilton@nbaf.org
VOLUNTEER INQUIRIES:
Keith Hill
Volunteer Coordinator
404.730.7315
KeithKNOWS2003@yahoo.com