Vantile Whitfield

Vantile Emmanuel Whitfield[1] (September 8, 1930 – January 9, 2005) was a highly influential arts administrator who helped found several performing arts institutions in the United States.[1][2]

Vantile Whitfield
Born(1930-09-08)September 8, 1930[1][2]
Washington, D.C., US[1]
DiedJanuary 9, 2005(2005-01-09) (aged 74)[2]
Washington, D.C.[2]
Other namesMotojicho[2]
Alma mater
OccupationArts administrator, director, playwright, educator, actor and production designer
Spouse(s)Barbara Ellen Cobbs[2] (m. 1950) (divorced)
Barbara Ann Grant[2] (m. 1960) (divorced)
Lynn Whitfield [2] (1974–1978) (divorced)
Loretta Collins[2] (1993–2005) (his death)
Children3[2]
AwardsNAACP Image Award, Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award

Background

Vantile Emmanuel Whitfield was born on September 8, 1930, in Washington, D.C., the only child of Theodore Roosevelt Whitfield (1902–1971) and Lugene Ellen Green.[1] While a student at Dunbar High School, he played football and became interested in painting.[2]

After high school, he served in the Air Force until 1952.[2]

Whitfield studied theatre at Howard University, receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1957. After graduation, he enrolled in the master's degree program at the UCLA Film School, becoming one of the first African Americans to study there.[1][2]

He was married, to actress Lynn Whitfield, from 1974 to 1978.

Career

In 1963, Whitfield co-founded with actor Frank Silvera the American Theatre of Being in Los Angeles. While there he taught acting classes with Beah Richards, Whitman Mayo and Isabel Sanford.[2] Also in 1963, Whitfield designed the sets, lights and costumes for Silvera's production of the James Baldwin play The Amen Corner, becoming the first African-American production designer to work on Broadway.[1] The following year, Whitfield founded and served as producing artistic director of the Performing Arts Society of Los Angeles (PASLA). The goal of PASLA was to help train inner-city youth in the performing arts.[1][2]

He was also founding Artistic Director of Studio West and was enlisted by Robert Hooks, of the D.C. Black Repertory Company, to be its Artistic Director.[1][2]

In 1971, Whitfield was the founding director of the Expansion Arts Program at the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). In this role, he had perhaps his greatest influence, because this program provided funds for many African-American artists and arts organizations.[1][2]

Association with L.A. Rebellion filmmakers

Although his tenure at UCLA Film School pre-dates the period generally associated with the L.A. Rebellion, Whitfield had a connection with several filmmakers associated with the film movement. Larry Clark taught film production classes at PASLA while a student at UCLA and directed the short film As Above, So Below (1973) through the organization. Whitfield also acted in Haile Gerima's film Ashes and Embers.[3]

Death

Whitfield died from complications of Alzheimer's disease on January 9, 2005.[2]

Awards and recognition
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References
  1. Whitfield, Lance. "Vantile E. Whitfield". LanceWhitfield.com. Retrieved 2011-11-13. While Vantile is very well known for his own artistic work, perhaps his most significant contributions have resulted from his work as an arts administrator — through which he made it possible for many African-American artists and arts’ organizations to receive funding to support their works.
  2. Shinhoster Lamb, Yvonne (2005-01-23). "Arts Administrator, Playwright Vantile Whitfield Dies". Washington Post. Washington, DC. Vantile Whitfield, known as "Motojicho," an influential playwright, director of stage and screen and founding director of the Expansion Arts program at the National Endowment of the Arts, died Jan. 9 at the Washington Home of complications from Alzheimer's disease. He was 74 and was considered a dean of black theater.
  3. "Vantile Whitfield". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 2011-11-14.
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