As we emotionally prepare ourselves to witness the next stage of America’s fiery political car crash tonight — the first presidential debate between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton — we can smile at some happy news that has emerged today from Washington. President Obama has unveiled the lineup of South by South Lawn, a very cleverly named partnership between the White House and the South by Southwest Festival created to inspire ideas, art, and action.
After traveling to Austin, Texas to deliver keynote addresses at this year’s festival in March, Michelle (who teamed with Missy Elliott to discuss her Let Girls Learn initiative) and Barack (who tackled civic engagement in the 21st century) are bringing a bit of SXSW to their own backyard, literally. The South by South Lawn festival will celebrate creative thinkers in music, art, film, and technology who are helping move our world forward. As you might expect from a curator-in-chief who fashions playlists packed with Frank Ocean and Fiona Apple, its roster is fire.
South by South Lawn kicks off with a breakfast session featuring legendary light and space artist James Turrell, which will be followed by a series of panel discussions on sustainable food, urban planning, and civic engagement. Before the festival begins on October 3, Stranger Things creators Matt and Ross Duffer will celebrate the achievements of young filmmakers who participated in the White House’s Student Film Festival. The breakout Netflix series’ pint-sized stars (and possible Louis Vuitton models) will present three student films on the South Lawn the following afternoon.
For the festival’s main event, President Obama will host a conversation between Leonardo DiCaprio and scientist Dr. Katharine Hayhoe, which will be accompanied by the premiere of the actor’s new climate change documentary Before the Flood. Musical performers include Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings, The Lumineers, and DJ Beverly Bond. We’re crossing our fingers that one of these performers debuts a new remix of Stranger Things‘ addicting synthy theme song (or at the very least, for Millie Bobby Brown to break out that Nicki Minaj verse for Barack and Michelle).
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Text Emily Manning