Greenville Symphony Music Director Lee Mills with musicians of the orchestra. Photo by Jeremy Fleming.
In Friday’s (11/1) Canton Repository (Ohio), Ed Balint writes, “Canton Symphony Orchestra will host a public discussion Monday on the arts and equity. The event starts at 6 p.m. at the EN-RICH-MENT Arts Education Center … Topics will include wealth and poverty, freedom and prejudice, and hope and despair, the Canton Symphony Orchestra said in its announcement. Those issues will be discussed through the lens of Ragtime the musical,” which the symphony is performing. “A panel discussion will be … followed by a community discussion … The event is free and open to the public…. Canton Symphony Orchestra staff said the panel will discuss … ‘how can the arts be an agent for equity.’ The discussion also will address the question of ‘what does change and equity mean in our own diverse community?’… ‘This panel serves as an opportunity to assess the current landscape, explore how each panelist and their organization are addressing equity challenges, and discuss actionable steps we can take together to build a more inclusive arts community,’ said Nathan Maslyk, director of marketing and development for the Canton Symphony Orchestra…. Rachel Hagemeier, CEO and president of the Canton Symphony, said the organization is committed to ‘continued conversations and learning on the subject of arts and equity.’ ”
