Lincoln Theatre Conversation Series: Equity in the Arts

Lincoln Theatre Community Conversation Series: Equity in the Arts - Preservation of Nostalgia & Articulation Arts Innovation
November 20, 2023

Equity in the Arts, with an understanding that cultural equity is critical to the long-term viability of the arts sector.

Panel Experts:
Gaëtane Verna is the Executive Director of the Wexner Center for the Arts. Ms. Verna will provide her expertise as an art historian, administrator, and educator with extensive international experience to “Equity in the Arts.” Ms. Verna previously served as director and art director for Toronto’s The Power Plant Contemporary Art Gallery. She has received many honors including her 2017 appointment to the Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Order of Arts and Letters) by the French government.

Brooke A. Minto is the Executive Director of the Columbus Museum of Art. As a panelist for “Equity in the Arts,” Ms. Minto brings her extensive experience working to make arts spaces more equitable. Ms. Minto previously served as the Executive Director for the Black Trustee Alliance for Art Museums (BTA). BTA’s mission is to transform art museums into more equitable and excellent spaces of cultural engagement by harnessing the power of Black trustees to diversify and govern their institutions. She studied art history at Dartmouth College and earned a master’s degree in modern art from Columbia University. She has held leadership positions in institutions nationally and internationally.

Demetries Neely is the Executive Director and CEO of the King Arts Complex. The KAC is a preeminent culture and arts institution and oasis for cultural and educational activities that is backed by numerous funders, esteemed by fellow art organizations, and poised for a strong future. She completely transformed the community-anchoring organization from top to bottom—executive leadership, board alignment, financial stability, donor engagement, brand equity, community programming, talent management, and team satisfaction. She was recruited to role based on active board leadership; converted a 6-month interim agreement into 10+ years of leadership pride and excellence, having discovered a labor of love and deep-rooted passion for the mission of connecting the community through the arts.

Suzan Bradford continues her remarkable tenure as Executive Director of the Lincoln Theatre with a vivacity that is contagious. With unwavering dedication and a boundless energy, she fosters an environment that encourages the introduction and incubation of local artists. Under her visionary leadership, the Lincoln Theatre has become a beacon of artistic brilliance, preserving its historical legacy while embracing innovative forms of expression. In parallel, Ms. Bradford has been an adjunct faculty member of The Ohio State University Dance Department for several years. She is a dancer, instructor, and choreographer of traditional West African dance. She is also the co-founder and artistic director of the Thiossane Institute, a dance company that promotes traditional West African dance, music, and culture.

Moderator:
Shelbi "Shel10" Toone is a seasoned Columbus professional with more than a decade of experience as an exhibiting artist, program manager, and curator. Shelbi is a cultivator of art with a passion for history and storytelling. She currently serves as the Project Director for the Ohio History Connection’s Poindexter Village Museum & Cultural Center. Shelbi is a graduate of the Near East Side Neighborhood Leadership Academy, the United Way Project Diversity program, the Lincoln Theatre's Expand Your Horizon Incubation Program, and the African American Leadership Academy. She currently serves as vice chair of the Neighborhood Design Center and a board member for the Ohio Alliance for Arts Education.

Community Conversations: Equity in the Arts is made possible, in part, by the National Endowment for the Humanities: Democracy demands wisdom. Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this program do not necessarily represent those of Ohio Humanities or the National Endowment for the Humanities.