David Whitehill, the new president and CEO of ArtinStark, is bursting with enthusiasm about the opportunities ahead for him in Stark County. You re going to get a passionate and visible advocate in the community, that s what ArtsinStark is buying, Whitehill said about himself, via telephone from Asheville, N.C., last week. And not just for the arts, for the community, he said. I truly admire the organization and the work that ArtsinStark is doing, but I m coming because of the people I met. It s clear their commitment to each other and the community really means something in Stark County.
To be leaving Asheville, a lively cultural mecca and tourist hub, for Canton, is a significant move for Whitehill, who had been executive director of the Asheville Symphony since 2012.