The Ohio State University College of Arts and Sciences is establishing a Town and Gown Advisory Committee for the Arts, according to an announcement by Joseph E. Steinmetz, executive dean and vice provost. He made the announcement on Friday, Nov. 9 at a meeting of the National Council of Arts Administrators conference in Columbus, where he introduced the 24 arts and community leaders who will serve on the advisory council.

“The committee will serve as a forum for collaboration between arts leaders in the city and at the university on mutually relevant issues and shared opportunities,” Steinmetz said. “It will enhance relationships between the university, City of Columbus, Columbus businesses and arts organizations, and local residents and will seek opportunities for cooperation, partnerships and educational exchanges.”

The university is in the midst of a renewed focus on the arts, as evidenced by multiple facility upgrades and the formation of a highly visible “Arts District” in the area of 15^th Avenue and High Street, which will help connect the vibrant arts on campus, in the Short North and in downtown Columbus.

According to Ohio State President E. Gordon Gee, “To be certain, Ohio State is a center of arts and culture in the Columbus community, and we are deeply committed to engaging beyond our campus borders. The advisory committee will chart the course, fostering creative conversations and shared collaborations among students, faculty, staff, artists and city leaders alike.”

The new 24-member Town and Gown Committee will initially meet twice per year. The group will focus on mutually relevant issues such as campus expansions for the arts and collaborations between the College of Arts and Sciences, community organizations and professional arts groups in town, Steinmetz said.

“We are working collectively with leading arts organizations in Columbus to make the arts in our community as vibrant and successful as possible,” he added. “We are developing new ways to integrate the arts throughout this major research university, and are striving to make the arts — on campus and in downtown Columbus — a significant part of every student’s experience while they are a Buckeye.”

The members of the inaugural Town and Gown Advisory Committee for the Arts are listed below. You can view the committee's current members here.

Joseph E. Steinmetz, Ohio State College of Arts and Sciences
George Acock, Acock Associates Architects
Steven Anderson, CATCO
Milt Baughman, Greater Columbus Arts Council
Richard Blatti, Ohio State College of Arts and Sciences, School of Music
Jack Jackson, Wexner Center for the Arts
Melinda Church, Ohio State University Communications
Sally Crane, The Crane Group
Donna Collins, Ohio Citizens for the Arts
Jevon Collins, King Arts Complex
Bill Conner, CAPA
Mary Gray, Riffe Gallery
Daniel Gray, Ohio State College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Theatre
Marilyn Harris, Columbus Symphony Orchestra
Julie Henahan, Ohio Arts Council
Linda S. Kass, Ohio State Board of Trustees
Martin Inglis, Battelle Memorial Institute
Wayne Lawson, Ohio State College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Arts Administration, Education and Policy
Nannette Maciejunes, Columbus Museum of Art
Jennifer McNally, McNally Midwest LLC
Mark Shanda, Ohio State College of Arts and Sciences, Arts and Humanities
Sergio Soave, Ohio State College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Art
Valarie Williams, Ohio State College of Arts and Sciences, Arts and Humanities
Guy Worley, Columbus Downtown Development Corporation