• Programming
• Leader of the Arts

Stephanie S. Hughley

November, 2003

Stephanie S. Hughley is the Executive Producer of the National Black Arts Festival in Atlanta. Since she took the position in 1999, she has been responsible for creating and developing the unique artistic programs of the Festival and the day-to-day operations of the organization.

The mission of the National Black Arts Festival is to develop, expose, and educate audiences to the arts and culture of the African Diaspora and to provide diverse opportunities for artistic and creative expression. Since its founding, it has evolved from a bi-annual summer arts festival to a year-round cultural institution that provides teacher training, curriculum development, youth leadership development, an Annual Holiday Gathering, and an annual 10-day festival held during the third week of July.

From 1995 to 1999, Hughley was Vice President of Programming at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center where she was responsible for initiating a year-round schedule of performances that reflect the myriad mission of the Arts Center. She was also the Theatre and Dance Producer for the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games Cultural Olympiad and played an integral role in creating the Olympic Arts Festival of arts, culture, and entertainment events that preceded and ran concurrently with the 1996 Olympic Games.

From 1987 to 1992, Hughley was the founding Artistic Director of the National Black Arts Festival. Earlier in her career, she was a professional dancer with a number of esteemed companies including the Dance Theater of Boston and the African/Caribbean and Ballet Companies of Boston’s National Center of Afro-American Artists.

For the leadership and creative vision she contributes to the arts, Public Broadcasting Atlanta and your Atlanta area Lexus dealers join in honoring Stephanie S. Hughley as our Lexus Leader of the Arts.