2022 Night of Ideas – Where are we going?

City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs and Villa Albertine announced the 2022 Night of Ideas, an annual nocturnal marathon of philosophical debates, performances, readings, and more, coordinated worldwide by the Institut français. Program and registration are live at nightofideas.org.

This year Night of Ideas returns in person, across an unprecedented 19 US cities and more than 100 countries worldwide. The nighttime gatherings will enable the public to engage with leading thinkers, scientists, novelists, activists, and artists around the theme Where Are We Going?, celebrating our resilience, uplifting democracy, and interrogating the path forward for a world in crisis.

In Atlanta, Night of Ideas kicks off May 14, 2022 at The Woodruff Arts Center. Programming will run from 6pm to 12am, with a lineup that includes Mayor Andre Dickens, Accidental Queens, Salah Ananse, Gaëtan Bruel, Dr. Cheryl Finley, Alex Frankcombe, Ryan Gravel, Floyd Hall, Ashlee Haze, Dr. Maurice Hobson, Monica Delores Hooks, Dr. Anne Lafont, Camille Russell Love, Wanona Satcher, Amelia Schaffner, Rose Scott, Marina Skye, Elizabeth Strickler, Lauren Tate Baeza, Brian Tolleson, Donray Von, Fabian Williams, Dr. Joycelyn Wilson, and Ryan Wilson.

“The City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs is excited to partner with Villa Albertine to bring together some of Atlanta’s most notable thinkers, technology experts, entrepreneurs, cultural ambassadors, business executives, artists, city leaders, and more to discuss the most pressing issues of our time – and address its impact on our beloved city.

In addition, the evening will showcase a host of immersive arts and cultural experiences including poetry, dance, visual art, film, and virtual reality. Atlanta’s first Night of Ideas will be reflective of the evolution of this city, and its cultural identity as home to the Civil Rights Movement. We are proud to be part of this global cultural conversation and share our Atlanta with the world,” – Camille Russell Love, Executive Director of the City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs.

Designed and produced by the City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs, Villa Albertine, The Aytes Agency, and hosted at The Woodruff Arts Center, this event invites intellectuals, artists, entrepreneurs, and the Atlanta public to embrace themes of city and culture, particularly in this moment of crisis and rebuilding.

“With the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs and the Woodruff Arts Center, Villa Albertine imagines Atlanta’s Night of Ideas as an event that will promote international dialogue and bring the Atlanta community together around a shared passion for arts and ideas,” – David Ruffel, Director of Villa Albertine in Atlanta.

Night of Ideas 2022 is the first major public event of Villa Albertine, a new kind of cultural institution across 10 US cities, with the mission to create international community through a shared exploration of arts and ideas. Launched in fall 2021, Villa Albertine coordinates over 60 exploratory residencies and 15 professional programs annually, curates local and national events, and publishes a magazine—each aimed at deepening engagement with the greatest issues of our time.

Night of Ideas is made possible with major support from the Judy and Peter Blum Kovler Foundation and Carnegie Corporation of New York.

For program details and more informtion please see nightofideas.org/atlanta.

Image provided by (c)Fulton County Arts and Culture – Public Art Futures Lab