To Julia Morrison, an art, music or theater show is so much more than a fun night out; it’s a chance to bring people together for shared, authentic experiences. Through her many roles in Macon, she’s working to preserve the historic venues where that magic happens and make the arts more inclusive.
Morrison was promoted to executive director of Mercer’s The Piedmont Grand Opera House and The Robins Financial Capitol Theatre in July, after serving as the University’s director of arts marketing for six years. In her previous role, she promoted The Grand, McEachern Art Center, Tattnall Square Center for the Arts, Townsend School of Music and the McDuffie Center for Strings. She was recently included in Macon Magazine’s 2026 list of Five Under 40 Young Leaders.
Growing up in the Washington, D.C., area, Morrison’s interest in the arts was piqued with a dance class and, before long, she had turned into a high school theater kid. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in theater at Virginia Tech, followed by a Master of Fine Arts in theater at Towson University.
Prior to moving to Macon in 2019 to take the job with Mercer, Morrison had a variety of career experiences that uniquely shaped her view of the arts. She founded a small, ensembled-based performance company in New York City called Critical Point Theatre and learned how a strong arts nonprofit operates as the program editor for the renowned Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. She also served as the outreach and marketing coordinator for theater company Talking Band Inc.; teaching artist with Broadway Bound Kids; and publication manager for George Mason University College of Visual and Performing Arts.
Morrison said she wanted the opportunity to do full-time arts work in a midsize city in the South. She was drawn to Macon’s culture, downtown revitalization initiatives, and strong ties to Mercer.
“I was always really attracted to Mercer’s extent to which it has invested in the cultural life in Macon,” she said. “I was also amazed at the cultural assets in Macon, what we were building towards, and how our vision for the future is very much based on our arts and cultural heritage. That’s how we are building the economic engines for the future in Middle Georgia and particularly in Macon.”
Morrison has enjoyed devising creative ideas for programs and being supported in her endeavors in her work with Mercer over the past seven years. In her new role, she is committed to being a good steward of the historic venues that Mercer operates downtown.
“I believe the arts need community investment to survive,” she said. “These historic arts spaces are at the forefront of where people have authentic, cool experiences in Macon. So those are spaces where people are able to engage in better well-being and increase their sense of community. I really want to be a good steward of those resources and get them on firm financial footing.”
In addition to preserving the spaces, she plans to do audience development work to break down the walls and norms that keep some people from visiting. The Macon-Mercer Symphony is a great example of an initiative that is crafting a more inclusive, comfortable audience experience, she said.
Morrison loves what downtown Macon has to offer, and she’s excited to be co-managing spaces that are offering real experiences for its residents and visitors.
“Today’s algorithmic media and social media make people kind of feel like they’re in a spiral where they’re speaking and no one’s hearing them or they’re talking and no one’s listening,” she said. “But the fine arts turn that on its head because how often do you get to go to a place where there’s hundreds of people in a room with you and we’re all listening to the same thing together? So that’s why I think that these heritage art spaces that we’ve created downtown matter so much.”
In addition to her role with Mercer, Morrison has worked with Macon Magazine for four years, first as photography editor and as managing editor for the past two years. She is also the fine arts director for Storytellers Macon; sits on the boards for Macon Pride, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Heart of Georgia, and Friends of Rosa Park Square; and is a member of the Macon Rotary Club. She previously chaired the Downtown Macon Community Association, worked with the Macon 200 Bicentennial Committee, and served on the board of Macon Little Theatre.
Outside of her work and community involvement, Morrison enjoys spending time and traveling with husband Alex Morrison, executive director at Macon-Bibb County Urban Development Authority, and their son, Jonah, who will turn 3 in September.
