Suncoast Black Arts Collaborative to Present 'The Black Experience in the Arts in Higher Education'

The Suncoast Black Arts Collaborative will present "The Black Experience in the Arts in Higher Education," as part of its four-part Arts & Racial Justice / Discovery Series, Monday, October 4, 5:30-7 p.m., at Florida Studio Theatre, 1241 N Palm Ave, Sarasota. The moderator for the event is Dr. Denise Davis-Cotton, director, Florida Center for PAInT, USF. Panelists are: Dr. Karen A. Holbrook, regional chancellor, USF, Sarasota-Manatee; Dr. Patricia Okker, president, New College of Florida; Dr. Carol Probstfeld, president, State College of Florida; and Dr. Larry Thompson, president, Ringling College of Art and Design. The event also features faculty and students from area higher education institutions. This event is a fundraiser for SBAC's programs and is limited to 100 guests. Masks are required to be worn at the event. Tickets are $100 per person and are not available for purchase until September 1. To purchase tickets and for more information, visit www.suncoastblackartscollaborative.org. The Arts & Racial Justice/Discovery Series is sponsored by the Community Foundation of Sarasota County and is a collaboration with Florida Studio Theatre's Diversity Forum Series.

According to Michéle Des Verney Redwine, SBAC's founder, the Arts and Racial Justice / Discovery Series provides a forum for artists and arts and civic leaders to participate in a dialogue Redwine describes as "courageous conversations." The first panel, in January, explored issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the visual arts. The second panel, in March, focused on the performing arts. The third panel, in April, centered on issues of equity in the literary, film and media arts.

"Higher educational institutions are learning how to engage in order to more effectively reach-and retain-people of color," says Redwine. "What can schools do to positively influence and inspire underserved students of color? Experts agree more attention needs to be paid to barriers Black students face before they step foot on campus. These are some of the issues we'll explore in this panel event."

Other participants in this event include: Samone A. Hicks, adjunct professor at State College of Florida; Dr. Brenda N. Pinkney, director of diversity and inclusion at State College of Florida; Greg Rumph, vice principal at Booker High School; Dr. William G. Woodson, dean, Office of Outreach at New College of Florida; and students Jesse Clark (Ringling College), Ayeola Whitworth (New College, class 2021), Krystle Lemonias (USF graduate student), and Fred Brown (State College of Florida).

For more information about the Suncoast Black Arts Collaborative, visit www.suncoastblackartscollaborative.org.