CCF Creative Spotlight: Jevon Collins

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CCF Creative Spotlight: Jevon Collins

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1. What do you do and where do you do it?

I am the Program Director at The Martin Luther King Jr. Cultural and Performing Arts Complex. I’m charged with developing and executing Performing Arts events at this prestigious institution. I am a Columbus native, graduate of Northland High School and The Ohio State University. Ironically, I received my scholarship to attend Ohio State when I was 11 years old at the King Arts Complex. I currently serve on The Ohio State University, College of Arts & Sciences, Town & Gown Committee and I’m the Midwest Desk for the National Performance Network. I have also been a panelist for the National Endowment for the Arts, Ohio Arts Council and Cuyahoga Arts and Culture. Locally, I have served on the Long Street Cultural Wall Unveiling Committee, Near-East Side Hop Committee and the Columbus Artist Network. I was heavily influenced by music as I was in the All-City Orchestra, founding member of the rap group The 3rd, recorded with Bizzy Bone at age seventeen recorded with Bizzy Bone, high-school and college talent show champion.

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2. Who/What are your biggest influences?

Aside from my immediate family encouraging me to be the best I can be at all times; I find influenced by lives and legacies of great artists who lived in Columbus. Some those people are Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Gene Walker, Anna Bishop, Roman Johnson, Emerson Burkhardt, Kojo Kamau, Elijah Pierce and Aminah Robinson, to name a few. I try to channel their passion for the arts and for their community. These legends were unapologetically proud of Columbus and I feel the same. The energy that one can feel by viewing a painting, wood carving or photograph, hearing a note or listening to a story from any of those people is what I hope to bring back to the arts in Columbus. It was organic and Columbus was thriving artistically. I’m so influenced with the past because things took time. Currently, we are inundated with too much, too quickly and it doesn’t resonate years later. The work of the people who influence me will stand the test of time and that’s what I plan for my efforts in Columbus and beyond.

2014 HCS

3. What does the term Creative Control mean to you?

The term evokes a feeling of empowerment to me. It takes power to gain control and the only true freedom we have is our creativity. If we were unable to create freely, we would be held captive from our inability to use our imagination. The arts bring exuberance to life and for me; there is no life without creativity. The term inspires me because it makes me want to create more to have great control of my future. As an arts administrator, I have an opportunity to have a positive affect on lives in our community. Creative Control is an important term and an important event in the global arts community. I applaud everyone involved with this effort and I look forward to continue my support of this amazing event!

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