Barack Obama First Sitting President To Keynote At SXSW In Austin

AUSTIN, TX -- It’s a historic first for South by Southwest: Hosting a sitting U.S. Commander-In-Chief when President Barack Obama is scheduled to be interviewed in a keynote conversation next weekend.

The SXSW arts and technology festival that draws people from all over the globe has had countless high-profile figures in the past. But this is truly historic.

The topic of the scheduled March 11 SXSW Interactive conversation moderated by Texas Tribune editor-in-chief Evan Smith will center on civic engagement in the 21st century, festival organizers said in a statement.

SXSW officials added that First Lady Michelle Obama also will play a key role in this year’s festival, hosting another keynote speech March 16. The topic of her address: Let Girls Learn, promoting the idea of helping 62 million girls around the world attend schooling.

“On Friday, March 11, President Obama will sit down with Evan Smith, CEO / Editor in Chief of The Texas Tribune, for a conversation about civic engagement in the 21st Century before an audience of creators, early adopters and entrepreneurs who are defining the future of our connected lives,” SXSW officials said in a prepared statement.

“The President will call on the audience to apply their ideas and talents to make technology work for us – especially when it comes to tackling big challenges like increasing participation in the political process and fighting climate change.”

President Obama’s appearance will be open to all SXSW Interactive, Gold and Platinum registrants, officials noted.

The milestone -- the first time for a sitting U.S. president and First Lady to keynote -- comes when the arts and msuic festival celebrates a milestone of its own: Its 30th year staging the massive event since its much smaller beginnings.

“I can’t imagine a better way to celebrate our event’s 30th birthday than to welcome both the President and First Lady to SXSW,” festival co-founder Roland Swenson said. “As each new generation comes up at SXSW they look for ways they can be of service, and it’s important to reflect and support that message. President and Mrs. Obama’s visit here will inspire attendees to that purpose.”

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