Atlanta artists reflect on the pandemic and racial reckoning in 'The NEXT Movement' film series

The NEXT Movement artists pose with NEXT CEO Faith Carmichael and MARTA GM Collie Greenwood at the Season 1 film screening (Courtesy of Faith Carmichael)

In the autumn of 2022, a collaboration between MARTA’s Artbound project and the NEXT Atlanta arts collective explored the question, “Where do we go next?

The multiplatform arts and social action campaign highlighted five Atlanta artists and their works, which spoke directly to the COVID pandemic and our country’s racial reckoning. 

This year, the performances in music, art and spoken word were captured and collected in the film series “The NEXT Movement,” now available to stream on PBS and WABE TV. 

In this interview, City Lights producer Summer Evans is joined by NEXT Movement curator Faith Carmichael, Director of Art and Transit Katherine Dirga, and participating composer and performer Okorie “OK Cello” Johnson. 

“These artists can really elevate their work that reaches communities across the city, very much in the same way that Marta does for our community,” Carmichael said.

“The NEXT Movement” Season 1 is now available to stream via PBS and WABE TV. You can find out more about the film series here.