The Joy of Arts in Ronnie Campbell

On April 19th hundreds of men, women, and children marched the streets of downtown Atlanta advocating for one cause: saving the arts. A wide spectrum of colors flooded through streets through signs and costumes. Protestors carried the signs “You can’t spell smart without art” and “Have a heart, save the arts”. Shouts could be heard loud and clear at the Atlanta Capitol where dance, music, speech and art came together. Among this crowd of people full of passion for this cause was Mr. Ronnie “RL” Campbell, Entertainment Manager and CEO of The Campbell Entertainment Organization.

It was at this place that Campbell became a part of the restoration of funding for the Georgia Council for the Arts. “It’s very bittersweet. I helped to rally artists for the march on the capitol and was out there right alongside with them,” said Campbell reflecting on the rally. “It felt good to know that our government officials actually listened and turned around their decision to cut GCA funding completely, but I’ll always feel like it’s never enough.” Campbell’s life shows a glimpse of the determination, love, and drive he and many others present at the rally have for the arts.

Originally from East Orange, NJ, Campbell settled in the South where he attended Georgia State University for his undergraduate studies. Campbell graduated in 2003 with a concentration in Theatre. Campbell then went on to American Intercontinental University for Business Administration. For over ten years, Campbell has been involved professionally with the arts industry through various mediums. Specifically in the Atlanta area, he has worked with the Alliance Theatre and Horizon Theatre Company, just to name a few. He was Co-Founder and Production Manager of Act-N- Up Youth Theatre in Lithonia, GA.

Primarily, Campbell handles live events for theatre, dance, film and the music industry where the motto “Don’t Sweat the Small Things, that’s what we’re here For” drives his organization to produce shows of the highest standards. As leader of his company he takes those words to heart and tries to look to others as an influence. “I admire people who fight for what they believe in. This doesn’t just stop and start with Artists, but I constantly learn from people who feel strongly about an issue.” Campbell is a proud member of the Actors’ Equity Association (AEA), the performing arts labor union that represents actors and stage managers in the United States.

Although it has been ten years that he has been working professionally in the industry, Campbell’s love for the arts began as a toddler. “I remember growing up as a child, going to the circus and wanting to know ‘how’d they do that?’“ The motivation to that question has led Campbell to a life of spontaneity and satisfaction. “I wanted a career where I didn’t have to do the same thing day after day.” For Campbell, this desire has come true. Campbell feels as though the best part of what he does for a living is that no day is the same as the previous day. “It changes so frequently. I go over the day’s to-do list for my various clients while having my morning coffee. Then I see where the day takes me. My workdays can get to be 16-20 hour days depending on what client I’m working on with at the time.”

“Assertive, optimistic, and spiritual” are words chosen by Campbell to describe himself. Throughout his daily interactions he exhibits these traits in numerous ways. Under Campbell’s Facebook page are over 30 albums of pictures from shows, award ceremonies, and travels across the nation. The experience of working with so many different clients, especially within the arts has given Campbell a new perspective. “I have a better appreciation for how to work well with any and everybody because of my involvement with the arts. I can understand the world around me, because I look at it through a different set of eyes everyday and can appreciate the beauty of things that others take for granted all the time.”

In a society where it seems as though being successful in the arts is not possible, Campbell has found a balance of what he loves, being successful, and most importantly experiencing pure joy. “I feel that the place for art in society today is what it was even during Shakespeare’s time, a tool for one to express her/ himself creatively and emotionally in order to being about a social change,” says Campbell. “So many people look at all of the different mediums of art and see them purely as entertainment, but art to me is nourishment for the soul.”