Adriane V. Jefferson has been appointed as the new executive director of the Office of Cultural Affairs (OCA) in Atlanta, marking a significant change in the city’s cultural leadership for the first time in the 21st century.
Jefferson succeeds Camille Love, who led the OCA since the 1990s under Mayor Bill Campbell’s administration. The change in leadership comes after a typical tenure of eight to ten years for directors in this role, which often aligns with political cycles, suggesting that Jefferson’s appointment is long overdue.
Before stepping into her new role in Atlanta, Jefferson served as the director of cultural affairs in New Haven, Connecticut. There, she led initiatives focused on cultural equity and anti-racism, showcasing her commitment to these critical issues in the arts.
Jefferson’s background is rooted in a diverse upbringing; her mother served in the Air Force, which led the family to move frequently before settling in New London, Connecticut. She pursued her studies at Florida Memorial University, a historic Black institution in Miami, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in popular music in 2009. Initially, Jefferson’s ambitions revolved around the music industry, particularly in music and songwriting, including hip-hop and spoken word.
Her career took a turn when she worked for Miami’s Overtown Youth Center from 2008 to 2010. This experience, where she helped develop the drama program, shifted her focus from music to nonprofit arts leadership, ultimately leading her to enroll in the arts administration graduate program at the Savannah College of Arts and Design.
In 2015, Jefferson returned to Connecticut, where she assumed the role of executive director and senior director of programs for Writer’s Block Ink in New London. This experience laid the groundwork for her subsequent appointment as the director of New Haven’s Cultural Affairs Department in February 2020.
Jefferson’s professional journey reflects a steadfast commitment to advancing cultural equity, prioritizing community-based initiatives. In 2022, she launched New Haven’s Cultural Equity Plan, which aims to create conditions where all individuals can express their culture vibrantly. The national recognition she received for this work caught the attention of city officials in Atlanta.
Since arriving in Atlanta, Jefferson has dedicated her initial months to listening and engaging with the city’s diverse neighborhoods and rich cultural heritage. She is focused on familiarizing herself with OCA’s history, structural organization, and initiatives while understanding the vital role the city plays in the broader cultural landscape of the Atlanta region.
Part of her responsibilities includes collaborating with various local, national, and international entities to elevate Atlanta’s status as a global cultural powerhouse. However, she faces challenges from the current national political atmosphere, which has raised questions about cultural equity’s validity and governmental support for the arts. Resource acquisition for the arts remains a critical issue, influenced by both public and private sectors.
Jefferson’s appointment presents a unique opportunity for Atlanta to reassess its funding strategies and cultural programs comprehensively. This reassessment would cover a broad spectrum of initiatives, including service grants for artists, youth programs, public art projects, and city events like the Atlanta Jazz Festival and Elevate. Atiba Mbiwan from The Zeist Foundation highlights that Jefferson is open to discussing all aspects of these programs as part of her mandate.
Bem Joiner, a key figure behind Atlanta Influences Everything and a member of the Mayor’s Art Advisory Committee, was part of the search committee that recommended Jefferson for the position. He expresses confidence in her capacity to convene diverse stakeholders, a skill he believes is crucial for her success.
Indeed, convening is more essential than ever in the current landscape. Jefferson is set to employ her strategic planning skills to guide the development of a culture action plan within the next six months. This plan will outline practical steps for the initial years of her tenure and serve as a precursor for a comprehensive strategic plan.
Historically significant, Mayor Maynard Jackson formed the city’s Bureau of Cultural Affairs in 1974 and organized a pivotal summit in 1990 that united 500 leaders from the arts community. The Atlanta Blueprint for the Arts, resulting from this summit, directed the city’s cultural efforts for many years. It was effective due to Mayor Jackson’s commitment to empowering the arts community and listening to its needs, exemplifying a successful partnership between government and community.
Currently, Joiner emphasizes that Atlanta’s cultural infrastructure stands in need of modernization, suggesting the city’s public arts funding infrastructure is lagging behind. While Jefferson’s appointment is promising, critical questions remain regarding the level of support and empowerment she will receive from the city.
Laura Hennighausen from Arts Capital | Atlanta highlights the ongoing struggle of Atlanta’s arts organizations, which have faced challenges, especially following cuts to federal funding. She compares Atlanta’s current cultural budget of $3.5 million (excluding the Jazz Festival) to Charlotte, North Carolina, where the public and private sectors have successfully increased their cultural budget to $11 million. Such comparisons underscore the necessity for a robust strategic cultural process that unifies nonprofit organizations, the business community, and the city.
As OCA celebrates its 50th anniversary, Hennighausen calls for a reevaluation of its dual role—for funding as well as for cultural production. Atlanta, asserting its position as the cultural capital of the Southeast, is encouraged to ensure its infrastructure is adequately equipped to uphold that title.
Mbiwan outlines pathways to success for Jefferson, advising her to immerse herself in Atlanta’s diverse neighborhoods and advocate for strong partnerships between public and private sectors. Identifying key leaders capable of fostering stability and growth in the arts field is crucial.
Joiner argues that Jefferson’s success hinges on evaluating OCA’s internal and external relationships, gaining an in-depth understanding of the region, and fostering cross-sector collaborations. Her ability to convene will be vital in establishing solid relationships across community and business leaders.
In addressing Jefferson’s challenges, my recommendation to Mayor Dickens is to enable her to fully exercise her role without constraints. Allow her the freedom to question and reassess every aspect of the OCA—the goal should be comprehensive innovation rather than maintaining the status quo.
Empowering Jefferson to spearhead a visionary and actionable strategic plan, anchored in the present social and cultural realities, will be key to Atlanta realizing its full potential within the cultural sector.
image source from:artsatl