Obama, first lady to headline SXSW festival

President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama will headline the South by Southwest (SXSW) festival later this month to promote participation in politics and girls’ education. 

The annual gathering in Austin, Texas, blends together music, film and emerging technology. It has been a key stop for technology-minded lawmakers over the years but has never hosted a sitting president. 

{mosads}Obama will headline the interactive — or tech-focused — portion of the event next Friday, when he will encourage entrepreneurs and inventors to develop tools to increase political participation and reduce climate change. 

“The President will call on the audience to apply their ideas and talents to make technology work for us — especially when it comes to tackling big challenges like increasing participation in the political process and fighting climate change,” according to a SXSW press release. 

Michelle Obama will speak the following week during the music portion of the conference to highlight Let Girls Learn, a program to get more girls around the world into schools.

The announcement is part of the administration’s push to reach out through nontraditional channels. Over the past few years, the president has been interviewed by YouTube stars, a popular alternative podcaster and comedians.