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Board approves $200,000 grant to National Black Arts Festival after commissioners seek accountability details
Summary
After commissioners requested follow-up on organizational questions, the board approved a $200,000 funding contract for the National Black Arts Festival and heard the festival chair describe program growth, a new CEO and recent grant awards; the motion passed unanimously.
The Fulton County Board of Commissioners on May 7 approved a $200,000 contract between Fulton County and the National Black Arts Festival (NBAF). Commissioners had held the item at a prior meeting to request additional organizational information; at this meeting the festival’s board chair and new chief executive outlined recent programming and fundraising and answered questions.
Why it matters: NBAF is a longstanding arts organization with year-round arts-education programming in Fulton County schools. Commissioners noted Georgia’s low per-capita public arts funding and characterized Fulton County’s grant as an important local investment in cultural programming and arts education.
Discussion and presentation: Lisa Bonner, chair of the NBAF board of directors, and NBAF’s new CEO, Leatrice Elzey (introduced in the meeting), described recent growth including a Bloomberg Philanthropies-supported public-arts initiative, murals and plans for a 2027 National Arts Festival. Bonner emphasized NBAF’s arts-education work in Atlanta Public Schools and the role of local support. Bonner said the festival had expanded revenue and partnerships and asked the board to release delayed county funding.
The board approved the contract by voice vote, 6–0. Commissioner Khadija Abdul Rahman said the item had her support and emphasized that earlier questions were part of routine accountability. Commissioner Mo Ivory, who sponsored the item, said he had reviewed organizational updates and supported moving forward.
What to watch: Implementation of the contract and any county reporting requirements tied to the funding.
