Today we’d like to introduce you to Sally Macaulay.
Hi Sally, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My professional background is in Advertising and Marketing. I joined the Marietta Cobb Museum of Art Board of Directors and, in 2008, was encouraged by the Board to apply for the position of Executive Director. Once appointed, my primary focus was to increase attendance and visibility for the Museum.
We introduced a variety of creative programs designed to bring new audiences through the doors, including Martinis & Music Nights, Art of Comedy, Parents’ Night Out, Harry Potter Event, and even a Designer Show House in partnership with the City of Marietta. While these events successfully increased engagement and community awareness, they generated very little sustainable revenue for the Museum.
In 2010, a board member introduced me to the Sarasota Chalk Festival in Florida. After visiting the festival, I immediately saw the potential to bring a similar event to Marietta. In 2011, we invited two chalk artists to participate as part of Art in the Park. Unfortunately, a hurricane hit that weekend, forcing us to move the artists indoors and have them work on canvas inside the Museum.
The following year, we expanded to 20 artists and again partnered with Art in the Park. While the event was successful overall, heavy rain on Sunday afternoon highlighted the challenges of relying on another festival’s structure. At that point, I made the decision to create an independent event fully under the Museum’s control.
The first standalone festival debuted as the Marietta Chalk Festival and was intentionally moved to October, historically the driest month of the year. Shortly thereafter, we added a beer festival component and rebranded the event as Chalktoberfest.
Today, Chalktoberfest hosts more than 100 artists from around the world and has become a signature cultural event for the City of Marietta. Most importantly, it has evolved into a major fundraising initiative that provides critical financial support for the Museum each year.
Besides Chalktoberfest, the Marietta Cobb Museum of Art has increase staff from 2 employees to 5 full time, 4 part time and a slew of volunteers that help with all kinds of events and classes.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
When I first proposed Chalktoberfest, not everyone was enthusiastic. The Mayor of the City of Marietta initially opposed closing the streets and voted against allowing the event to take place. Despite this obstacle, I remained committed to the vision and worked to overcome the concerns. Today, Chalktoberfest generates an economic impact of $5.2 million for the City of Marietta. What was once met with resistance is now widely celebrated—the mayor is a strong supporter, and the community consistently calls it the best event of the year.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I serve as the Executive Director of the Marietta Cobb Museum of Art, where I act as the public face of the Museum while overseeing staff leadership, strategic partnerships, sponsorship development, and community engagement for all exhibitions, events, and educational programs. I am especially proud of founding Chalktoberfest, an event that has grown into a signature festival with significant economic impact for the City of Marietta. I am equally proud of the high-quality exhibitions and dynamic programs hosted at the Museum, which continue to attract diverse audiences. Most importantly, I am grateful for an exceptional staff whose dedication and creativity have played a vital role in helping the Museum thrive.
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
The Marietta Cobb Museum of Art hosts a wide variety of events and classes. please look on line to find our full list. The MCMA is located one block off the Marietta Square. The address is 30 Atlanta Street, Marietta, GA.
The museum is open Tuesday – Sunday. Hours and events are online at www.mariettacobbartmuseum.org
Contact Info:
- Website: https://mariettacobbartmuseum.org
- Instagram: mariettacobbartmuseum, Chalktoberfest
- Facebook: marietta cobb museum of art
Image Credits
Sharyn Chan is the photographer.
The artists are Dawn Wagner, Hector Diaz, Eduardo Bustos, Jennifer Ripassa, Erik Greenawalt and Whitney Perkins.
