Image: D.L. Warfield, The United States of We Built This Sh*t for Free
As America marks its 250th anniversary, NBAF’s 2026 season, I, Too, Sing!, offers a resonant exploration of the role Black creativity has played in defining and redefining the American story. Rooted in Langston Hughes’s declaration, “I, too, sing America,” the suite asserts that Black art is not an addendum to the national narrative; it is one of its primary authors. Through live and digital programming over the course of the year, we remind the nation that America’s song is not complete without our verse.
Join NBAF as we gather visionary artists and thinkers to explore a defining question for this moment: Who gets to shape the story of this nation? This conversation examines America as an unfinished composition, a story continuously reframed by creativity, cultural memory, and imagination. Through a dynamic dialogue at the intersection of art, history, and identity, the panel considers how Black voices have expanded, challenged, and co-authored the American narrative, and what it means to claim authorship as the nation enters its next chapter.
NBAF’s Creatively Speaking conversation series focuses on art, culture and ideas.
The Bloomberg Philanthropies Public Art Challenge continues with the Thriving Together Atlanta Mobile Art Experience, a roving, immersive platform for public art, healing, and education. Designed to meet people where they are, the Mobile Art Bus serves as both a literal and symbolic vehicle for wellness, storytelling, and cultural expression. At each stop, the bus hosts a curated salon experience which includes a performance, education and healing arts. All delivered within or around the mobile bus environment. Join Us!
Stop #1
Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Observance Week Celebration
January 12, 2026 | 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM
King Center for Non-Violent Social Change, 449 Auburn Avenue, NE
The Mobile Art Experience joins the King Center and the global community in recommitting to the mission of protecting freedom, justice, and democracy for all and pushing for a world where every individual can live with dignity and respect. Featuring vocalist Bria Anai, energy healing practitioner Sandy Muhammad and health equity advocates, BLKHLTH.
Presented in partnership with MARTA and The King Center for Non-Violent Social Change. Curated by NEXT Atlanta.
Thriving Together Atlanta is a public art project dedicated to addressing inequality in healthcare through free events and activities. A collaboration between the City of Atlanta – Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs, the National Black Arts Festival, and Out of Hand Theater. The project serves as a model of how cross-sector partnerships can address the multifaceted issues affecting communities. The groundbreaking project was awarded a $1 million grant through the Bloomberg Philanthropies Public Art Challenge which brings together cities and their leaders, residents, and artists to develop temporary public art projects that address important civic issues in their communities.
To date NABF has presented the Thriving Together Atlanta Community Arts and Wellness Festival and produced two mural projects. Artist C. Flux Sing’s mural Old 4th, Forward to Victory uplifts the legacy and perseverance of Old Fourth Ward while Chloe Alexander’s The Light We Carry celebrates resilience and collective care in the West End. The final project, a mobile bus experience, launched in January 2026. The Mobile Bus Experience is produced in partnership with NEXT Atlanta and MARTA.
Visit the Thriving Together Atlanta website to stay up to date on upcoming events.
Additional funding has been contributed by Cousins Foundations, Gucci Changemakers, and South Arts. Support from the Black Leadership AIDS Crisis Coalition powered by AHF. Community partners include the Atlanta Beltline, Darwin Hotel, MARTA, NEXT Atlanta, Hammonds House Museum and Historic Mount Sinai Baptist Church.
