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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 15, 2023

MARTA ARTBOUND, NEXT, AND WABE HOST NATIONAL PREMIERE OF “THE NEXT MOVEMENT SEASON 1” CONCERT SERIES
ATLANTA –
The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) public art program Artbound, NEXT Atlanta, and WABE announce the premiere of ‘The NEXT Movement’ Virtual Concert Series (Season 1), an innovative film featuring commissioned performances from five of Atlanta's rising literary, visual, and musical artists, on Tuesday, Nov. 21 from 7 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights.

Set against the backdrop of a decommissioned MARTA train, the concert series speaks to the impact of a global pandemic, a national racial reckoning and each artist's answer to the question:  where do we go NEXT? It features powerful performances by some of Atlanta’s leading artists working at the intersection of art and social justice – poet and author Jon Goode, musician CC Sunchild, cellist Okorie ‘OkCello’ Johnson, poet and author Carlos Andres Gomez, and visual artist Melissa A. Mitchell. Visit NEXT Artists - Google Drive for images of the artists.

A screening of the film will be followed by a panel discussion and interactive dialogue with the audience, artists, filmmakers, and some of the city’s leading art activists. 

“Much like art, transit is all about taking people on a journey and connecting them to one another,” said MARTA General Manager and CEO Collie Greenwood. “And through MARTA Artbound, we’re proud to support a transcendent work of art like this that successfully transports its viewers through performances about important subjects like mental health, race, and social justice.”

“This film allows us to share the voices of our community’s most aspiring Black and Brown artists many of whom still struggle to gain access to share those talents. Thanks to this incredible collaboration with  MARTA Artbound, we are able to further amplify their artistic expression in service to social change,” said NEXT Executive Director P. Faith Carmichael

“When MARTA was approached about the campaign, we were excited for the opportunity to further showcase Atlanta's vibrant and diverse artistic community,” said MARTA Artbound Director Katherine Dirga. “This film exemplifies the link between art, social justice, and forward motion, and through our continued partnership with NEXT, MARTA has been able to amplify its role as a community connector—engaging Atlantans around the critical issues that affect us most.”

After the premiere, the film will launch nationally on WABE and the PBS PASSPORT platform in late November. 

The NEXT Movement is a multi-platform arts and social action effort launched in 2022 by NEXT and MARTA Artbound that aims to elevate the voices of Atlanta's artists to address our community's post-pandemic dreams and challenges, while harnessing the connective power of mass transit to ignite meaningful conversations.

 

 

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