The Suncoast Black Arts Collaborative has appointed the organization’s founder, Michéle Des Verney Redwine, as its first CEO.

As SBAC’s president, Redwine launched several groundbreaking initiatives, including the Arts & Racial Justice/Discovery panel series. SBAC also partnered with Art Center Sarasota and five Sarasota County schools to offer students of African descent the opportunity to participate in “Student Black Muse,” a visual arts exhibition commemorating Black History Month. Redwine also launched the “Syllabus of Color” initiative, a three-year art appreciation program for Black and Latino students, and has worked to create partnerships with dozens of area organizations, including Florida Studio Theater, Art Center Sarasota, the Hermitage Artist Retreat, Manasota ASALH, Sarasota Museum of Art, the Polk Museum, the Sarasota County school system and several educational groups and organizations.

In addition to appointing Redwine CEO, SBAC also welcomed seven new members to its board of trustees: Malcolm Lewis Barnes, Terry Brackett, Allen Brown, Francine Brown, Kimberly Grainger, Kaveecia Moore and Calvin Ramsey. Dr. James Stewart will serve as interim  president.