On a recent bright summer morning, I met Adriane Jefferson, Atlanta’s executive director of the Office of Cultural Affairs, at the newly opened Pearl Cleage & Zaron Burnett Center for Creativity & Culture in the West End. She greeted me with a smile and an offer: “Do you want me to give you a walk and go?”
As we moved through the renovated building, Jefferson pointed out what she’s most proud of — and what was still in progress. A podcast studio wired for future recording. A gallery showing works from the city’s collection, alongside pieces by artists who had lost their studios. The center’s backstage area with proper green rooms and bathrooms. She showed me the swag her team had designed, joked about putting her “sprinkle” on the space, and finally led me into the Black Box Theatre, where we sat down to talk.
Jefferson began leading the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs in February 2025. Six months in, she is thinking about how Atlanta tells its cultural story — and what legacy she wants to leave behind.
Here’s some of what she shared.
Coming Together
What surprised you most about Atlanta’s cultural landscape?
I came in knowing Atlanta was a cultural mecca, especially for Black people. What I didn’t expect was how siloed it all feels. Everything is here — music, fashion, fine arts, entrepreneurship — but not always in conversation with each other. I see that as an opportunity, not a problem. The Office of Cultural Affairs should be the convener: bringing people together through roundtables, community sessions, and town halls. That’s our first job.
What does convening look like in practice?
We’re planning an Atlanta Creative Summit … two days of strategy sessions with artists, developers, policymakers, hospitality leaders, sports and entertainment figures. We’ll come out with a one- to two-year cultural action plan: immediate steps to strengthen the creative economy and lay the foundation for a longer cultural plan. We’ll center cultural equity — housing, healthcare, and sustainability for artists. That’s my lane. I call myself a cultural equity strategist.
We’re also introducing new programs. We just introduced the Cultural Ambassadors program, which is both a volunteer and paid opportunity that engages influencers and content creators — podcasters, journalists, people who tell stories — to help us reach more people. We have two different pathways: an Ambassador pathway for volunteers who are really involved in their community, and a track for influencers who would be paid to use their reach.”
How are you rethinking Elevate this year?
This year, we’ve condensed it into one strong weekend with the theme ‘Rooted & Rising.’ It’s about honoring the legacy of Black Atlanta while acknowledging how Gen Z and millennials are shaping culture now. Afterward, we’ll host think tanks and focus groups to decide what Elevate should look like going forward.”
Equity Beyond the Stage, Page, or Frame
You often talk about cultural equity. What does that mean for Atlanta artists?
It means livability. Too many artists can’t afford housing or healthcare. Some pass away because they couldn’t afford treatment. That’s unacceptable. I believe artists should have insurance, and I want to build public-private partnerships that provide wraparound services — housing support, healthcare, and sustainability. Government can’t do it alone, but we can convene the partners. That’s the work.
How do you see the Mayor’s vision of cultural districts unfolding in Atlanta?
A lot of cities have signature cultural districts, and Atlanta should, too. But we must design them with an anti-gentrification, anti-displacement lens. It can be done. Sweet Auburn’s place-keeping work is a good model. Cultural districts can help us package Atlanta’s story for the world, but they have to preserve the communities that built that story
How do you pursue bold goals in a tight funding climate?
The nonprofit model isn’t sustainable if everyone’s chasing the same foundations and grants. We need to flip philanthropy on its head. I believe in crowdsourcing, corporate investment, and community reinvestment. Atlanta should lead in redefining how the arts are funded.
Looking Ahead
Six months in, what do you hope Atlanta is celebrating by 2027?
The 50th Jazz Festival. Cultural districts that are already designated. Murals and activations from the World Cup that remind people that Atlanta is a global creative capital. I want us to be celebrating how we connected the dots and showed the world who we are.
Why are you the right person to lead that work?
I wasn’t looking to leave New Haven. I came here because I felt called. My husband, my daughter, and I moved because we believe in this city. My agenda is what’s best for the community. Atlanta has everything — we just need to connect the dots. And I see myself as a unifier. That’s who I am.
