Camille Russell Love, longtime Atlanta cultural affairs director, retires

City of Atlanta Cultural Affairs Director Camille Russell Love, a fixture in City Hall and the city’s arts scene for more than 25 years, announced she will retire before the end of the year.

The city announced in a statement that a national search would be conducted to find Love’s replacement. Upon the appointment of her successor, Love will assume a distinguished role within the city as senior advisor on cultural affairs to the mayor.

“I love serving my city and its residents and look forward to continuing my service,” Love said in a statement. “While I will miss the daily contact and work with this city’s cultural community and emerging artists, I look forward to continuing to work with Mayor (Andre) Dickens to move Atlanta forward.”

Since 1998, Love has headed cultural programming for the city of Atlanta. As executive director, she provided strategic direction for various cultural and artistic initiatives, including the Chastain Arts Center and Gallery, the city’s public art program, Gallery 72, Elevate, arts services contracts, the Cultural Experience Project and the Atlanta Jazz Festival. .

Love has also played a central role on several boards, including the Metropolitan Atlanta Arts Fund, the APEX Museum, the Piedmont Park Conservancy, and the National Black Arts Festival. She has further lent her expertise to esteemed committees such as the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation National Selection Committee and the 1996 Cultural Olympiad Committee.

Her dedication and contributions have earned her local, national and international awards, including the Inspired Cultural Excellence Award (2002) from Omega Media, the Ford Freedom Unsung Award (2012) from Ford Motor Company, the Women in the Arts (2012) from Synchronicity and the Cultural Warrior Award (2013) from the National Black Arts Festival.

Additionally, under his leadership, Artsy recently recognized Atlanta as the second emerging art capital to watch in 2024.

“MS. Love has served the people of Atlanta with the utmost integrity and character. His creativity and vision have played a pivotal role in elevating the perception of cultural and performing arts in our community,” a Mayor Dickens said in a statement.