About Us
About the Atlanta Black Theatre Festival
The Atlanta Black Theatre Festival (ABTF) is a gathering of the world's preeminent theatre producers, writers, artists, and art lovers to celebrate creative works for and about the Black experience.
Each year we scour the globe to present a line-up of world-class performances, engaging panels, and poppin' parties. We celebrate our cultural heritage by presenting and preserving our stories in our own authentic voices.
"Where Black Theatre Thrives!"
We aim to create and expand opportunities for artists of color to affordably produce and present their work to thousands of theatre and art lovers in person and digitally.
Since 2012, the Atlanta Black Theatre Festival has hosted over 3,000 artists via live and virtual events, entertaining and educating art enthusiasts from all over the world. Over 145 self-producing playwrights have found a platform to present their original works during close to 400 events.
Mission/Vision
Our mission is to provide opportunities for theatre and performing artists to develop, present, and preserve, in an authentic voice, multi-disciplinary art for and about the pan-African experience.
Our vision is to develop programs that provide safe and strong community connections as we discover, present, and preserve the true history and contributions of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color) people to the arts and cultural landscape of our global civilization.
What Do They Say About the Atlanta Black Theatre Festival...
Highly regarded:
- "Top Theatre Festival to Visit Around the World" by TopTenZilla.com
- "Best Fall Festivals" by MyAJC.com
- "Can't Miss Fall Festivals" by the Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau
- "5 Dope Events You Must Check Out in Atlanta" by Blavity.com
- "Best Family Friendly Festivals You Must Check Out this Fall" by 11alive.com
- "Top 5 Event Picks for October" by AtlantaMagazine.com
Our prime aim is to use the power of the arts to:
The Atlanta Black Theatre Festival's prime aim is to:
1. CHANGE the narrative by revealing the truth of our history and contributions to civilization;
2. ENGAGE, encourage, and enlighten the next generation;
3. BUILD a sustainable institution that preserves Black culture through theatre, literature, art, across the diaspora.
4. ENTERTAIN while creating whole and healthy communities.