Oliver Ragsdale Jr.
President – The Arts League of Michigan
Panelist - 2:15pm, Thursday, April 7th – Just Cities: Creating Equitable Enviornments for Everyone
Oliver Ragsdale Jr. is currently President of The Arts League of Michigan, Inc. and the Virgil H. Carr Cultural Arts Center, one of the largest minority arts organization in the state of Michigan. Through its core programs of presenting visual and performing arts and community arts and education, The Arts League serves as a Center in the development, presentation, preservation and promotion of the African and African American cultural arts. President since 1991, Mr. Ragsdale serves as the organization’s Chief Executive and Program Director.
Over the past several years, program and audience development partnerships with The Henry Ford, University Musical Society of the University of Michigan, Detroit Opera House, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, Michigan State University, Wayne State University, Cranbrook Educational Community and Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History have created a variety of innovative artistic initiatives focused on increasing cultural participation for artists and audiences.
Mr. Ragsdale produced and managed a six-week, seven country tour of Africa and the Middle East with the Michigan Jazz Masters, in cooperation with the United States Department of State and three national tours of the Rudy Hawkins Singers’ holiday production, “Oh Holy Night.” For both tours, he served as Executive Producer for each ensembles’ first recording, “Urban Griot” and “Oh Holy Night” respectively. Oliver produced two productions of Langston Hughes’ “Black Nativity”, directed by Tony-award winner George Faison and featuring Grammy winners Stephanie Mills and Tramaine Hawkins.
Oliver has served as the Managing Director of the West Shore Symphony Orchestra, the Ohio Chamber Orchestra and the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company. Additionally, he has worked in a wide range of management consulting assignments including the Lila Wallace Reader’s Digest National Jazz Network, Highland Park Community College, Cleveland State University, Interlochen Academy for the Arts and Howard University.
Mr. Ragsdale is the Past President of the Michigan Association of Community Arts Organizations, vice President of the Michigan Festival and Events Association and a member of the board the Cultural Alliance for Southeastern Michigan. He also serves on the Kresge Arts in Detroit Advisory Council, the Creative Corridor Advisory Committee and the Community Arts + Detroit Advisory Council. Oliver served as the Co-Chair of the National Black Philanthropy Conference held in Detroit.
Oliver is an accomplished percussionist. He has an extensive professional background as a performer with such organizations as the Pittsburgh Opera and Ballet Orchestras, West Shore Symphony Orchestra, Virginia and Michigan Opera Theatre Orchestras and numerous bands, musicals, orchestras, touring companies and road shows including Dionne Warwick, Earl “Fatha” Hines, Steve Allen and others. He is currently a member of the music staff of Olivet Institutional Baptist Church.
