Cinqué Hicks brings new energy to ArtsATL

ArtsATL new editor-in-chief Cinque Hicks. (Courtesy of Kazki Watanabe)

ArtsATL is one of the biggest champions in both the non-profit digital publication and the Atlanta Arts community. After fourteen years in action, the publication’s journalists, art critics and advocates have weathered many a storm with poor public funding streams and the effects of the pandemic.

The future for ArtsATL, however, looks bright – with a new editor-and-chief at the helm, Cinqué Hicks!

He brings 30 years of experience in publishing and an extensive bibliography of columns, essays and analyses across Atlanta’s media landscape.



The Harvard and Georgia Tech graduate arrives at ArtsATL with a rich history of storytelling art and critique, which will guide the organization as it moves into the future.

The publication will be highlighting artist processes, histories and critique, aiming to give audiences “insight into understanding why a certain artist made a certain choice,” even when those choices may not work.

On Thursday’s edition of “City Lights”, he spoke with host Lois Reitzes on his new position and ideas for the future of the organization.

When asked about the direction that he intends to take ArtsATL in, Hicks shared that the org will be “leaning into storytelling in a more intensive way than we have in the past… We have the unique charge to connect audiences with artists in a way that allows audiences and readers to understand the arts that they’re looking at.”

Tune into the show to learn more!