South by Southwest road closures map The city of Austin has released a map of road closures during the South by Southwest Conferences & Festivals March 11-20.[/caption] Updated March 11 at 9:10 a.m. As President Barack Obama gets set to make his keynote South by Southwest Conferences and Festivals appearance March 11 at 2:30 p.m., the city of Austin released a map of road closures during the March 11-20 event. Obama will sit down with The Texas Tribune CEO and Editor-in-Chief Evan Smith for a discussion about civic engagement in the 21st century in Dell Hall at the Long Center. First Lady Michelle Obama is slated for a speaking engagement on March 16. Posted March 3 at 6:23 p.m. President Obama President Barack Obama will be the first sitting president to appear at the South by Southwest Conferences and Festivals on March 11.[/caption] President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama will become the first sitting occupants of the White House to participate in the South by Southwest Conferences and Festivals, which kick off March 11 in Downtown Austin. They will each be keynote speakers at the 10-day event comprising interactive, film and music components. President Obama’s appearance on March 11 includes a conversation with The Texas Tribune CEO and Editor-in-Chief Evan Smith about civic engagement in the 21st century, according to a SXSW news release. “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,” the news release states. President Obama’s appearance is open to SXSW Interactive, Gold and Platinum badge holders. Michelle Obama will deliver the opening keynote on March 16 during the SXSW Music portion of the event. The first lady will discuss Let Girls Learn, a global educational initiative helping 62 million girls, mostly adolescents, who are not in school. Her event is open to SXSW Music, Film, Gold and Platinum registrants. Kelly Krause, head of Interactive press for SXSW, said details regarding traffic implications during the Obamas’ visit as well as a venue for their respective appearances are not yet available. She said they will be announced early next week on www.sxsw.com. Times, streaming options and access are also among the pending details, according to a news release.