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SXSW is getting a presidential upgrade this year. President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama have been announced as keynote speakers at the music and interactive event held in Austin, TX later this month.

Obama will precede his wife as the opening keynote at SXSW Interactive, Friday, March 11. Mrs. Obama will speak during SXSW Music, the following week. The event marks the first time in its 30-year history that a sitting president has attended SXSW:

President Obama will sit down with Evan Smith, CEO / Editor in Chief of The Texas Tribune, for a conversation about civic engagement in the 21st Century before an audience of creators, early adopters and entrepreneurs who are defining the future of our connected lives. 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. President Obama’s appearance is open to all SXSW Interactive, Gold, and Platinum registrants.

On Wednesday, March 16, First Lady Michelle Obama comes to SXSW Music to discuss the Let Girls Learn initiative, which aims to break barriers for the 62 million girls around the world who are not in school today, more than half of whom are adolescent. The SXSW Music Conference brings the global music industry together and offers the perfect platform to celebrate Women’s History Month, as the First Lady provides her call to action to support girls’ education. First Lady Michelle Obama’s event is open to all SXSW Music, Film, Gold, and Platinum registrants.

Location details and streaming information for the Obamas will be released at a later date.The interactive portion of SXSW runs March 11-15, while the music half is held March 15-20.

Photo: WENN