National Black Arts Festival Welcomes Leatrice Ellzy as President & CEO and Lisa Bonner as Board Chair
ATLANTA, GA — The National Black Arts Festival (NBAF) proudly announces the appointment of Leatrice Ellzy as its new President and CEO, effective July 1, 2025. A nationally respected curator, producer, and cultural strategist, Ellzy returns to NBAF to lead the organization into a dynamic new chapter focused on innovation, cultural preservation, and deeper community engagement. In addition, Lisa Bonner—entertainment lawyer, production attorney (licensed in CA and NY), legal commentator, best-selling author, and board member of the NYU School of Law Alumni Association (LACA)—was formally announced as Board Chair during NBAF’s 19th Annual Fine Art + Fashion event, further cementing the organization's commitment to excellence in leadership and cultural impact.
“It is an incredible honor to step into the role of Board Chair for the National Black Arts Festival, a cultural institution that has long championed the power, beauty, and brilliance of Black artistic expression,” said Lisa Bonner, new Board Chair, NBAF. “As we enter this exciting new chapter, I am thrilled to welcome Leatrice Ellzy as our new President and CEO. Leatrice is a visionary leader whose deep commitment to the arts and unmatched creative strategy will elevate NBAF’s legacy and shape its future. Together, we are poised to amplify our mission, expand our reach, and continue building a thriving ecosystem for Black artists across the globe.”
With more than 35 years of leadership in the arts and nonprofit sectors, Ellzy is known for her transformative work across creative disciplines. Her appointment comes at a pivotal time as NBAF prepares to expand its programming, deepen national partnerships, and strengthen its role as a steward of Black cultural heritage.
Ellzy most recently served as Senior Director of Programming at Harlem’s Apollo Theater, where she led groundbreaking initiatives in music, theater, film, dance, and humanities. Her work pushed the boundaries of traditional curation, centering Black voices and narratives in bold, future-forward ways.
Her journey comes full circle as she returns to NBAF—where she once served as Director of Artistic Programming—to reimagine its future. Under her leadership, NBAF will:
Redesign its annual festival model to be more immersive, accessible, and multi-disciplinary
Develop a comprehensive digital archive preserving the legacy of Black artists
Launch national initiatives and cultural collaborations that reflect the diversity and brilliance of the African Diaspora
Invite sustainable investment to ensure long-term impact
“NBAF provided the foundation for my arts leadership journey, and I am deeply honored to return to this venerable institution,” said Ellzy. “At a pivotal moment when Black culture faces both threats of erasure and increasing commodification, it is more critical than ever that we nurture it with intention, creativity, and sustained investment. NBAF is not simply a celebration of the richness of Black art for the sake of art --it is a vibrant, living ecosystem where artists flourish, histories are preserved, and the possibilities of the future are imagined.”
Founded in 1987, NBAF is the nation’s longest-running multidisciplinary arts organization dedicated to celebrating artists of African descent. With Ellzy at the helm, NBAF is poised to evolve as a national beacon for Black artistic excellence, cultural preservation, and future-forward storytelling.
For media inquiries, interviews, or further information, please contact:
Angela Watts
Email: angela(at)10squaredagency.com
Website: nbaf.org
Social: @NBAF (Instagram / Facebook)