Art
Art creates conversations. Historic American Pop and No War invite people to explore history, freedom, expression and the experiences we share.
Executive Summary
America Together begins in Dallas
America Together is being established as a nonprofit organization to bring people together through art, music, food and civil conversation. The proposed four-day celebration of freedom and democracy begins in Dallas.
Through art, music, food and public conversation, America Together invites Americans to gather around the values they share, speak honestly about the issues that divide them and consider the responsibility each generation carries for protecting freedom and democracy.
Dallas is envisioned as the flagship city. The experience would begin several weeks before the formal program, with red, white and blue Kitchen Tables, posters, table cards and QR invitations appearing in cultural venues and gathering places throughout the city. These invitations would encourage participation and connect people to the four-day celebration.
Four connected experiences
Day One opens with the Historic American Pop and No War exhibitions. Art creates conversations, inviting people to explore history, freedom, expression and the experiences we share.
Day Two moves into music as an expression of freedom and shared culture.
Day Three brings people together through The American Table, a communal culinary experience celebrating chefs, regional traditions and conversation.
Day Four culminates with Let’s Talk America, a Kitchen Table Conversation where the ideas, people and experiences of the preceding days come together.
Let’s Talk America
The Dallas finale is intended to become the defining moment of America Together. Its opening conversation would bring together journalists, civic leaders, cultural voices, educators, veterans, democracy advocates, former public officials, students and members of the Dallas community to explore the common values and responsibilities that connect Americans.
Our ambition is to close the program with filmmaker Ken Burns leading a conversation with former Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama. Advancing the introductions and invitations needed to secure their participation is a major priority. All proposed participants remain subject to invitation, confirmation, scheduling, security and approval.
The proposed funding model
Our goal is to secure corporate sponsorships, philanthropic support and program underwriting sufficient to cover the full cost of the Dallas presentation. Financial arrangements and any charitable beneficiaries would be defined through appropriate agreements.
From Dallas to a national series
Dallas would establish the foundation for a proposed series of 8–14 total presentations, including Dallas.
The immediate work is to turn the concept into commitments: advance participant conversations, develop sponsorship support, confirm venues and production requirements, and establish the agreements needed to proceed.
America Together is designed to do more than produce a successful event. Its purpose is to make freedom and democracy visible through shared experiences, and demonstrate that Americans can engage across their differences without surrendering their convictions.
The Vision
America, it’s time to talk together again!
Our mission is to bring people together to celebrate our common ground, freedom and democracy.
In a divided society, we need opportunities to gather, listen to one another, and remember what we share.
America Together is a proposed four-day celebration of freedom and democracy, where people can connect through art, music, great food, and civil conversation.
America Together is fully bipartisan. We take no political side. We invite people from different experiences and perspectives to celebrate the freedom and democracy we share.
Four days in Dallas
Many ways to come together.
Music
An ambitious live music evening built around exceptional performers and the energy of a shared audience. Artists, venue and dates will follow confirmed agreements.
The American Table
Chefs, regional cuisines and personal stories around one shared occasion. Sixty tables of ten make room for 600 guests, with a sense of connection at every table.
Let’s Talk America
The Kitchen Table Conversations and Presidential Conversations invite people to listen across differences. The proposed Presidential Conversations would bring President George W. Bush, President Barack Obama and Ken Burns into a shared discussion. All participants remain subject to invitation and confirmation.
