Dr. Ed Holmes: Building a vision for equity at Overture Center

Nearly a decade ago, Ed Holmes, PhD, of Madison, attended “Disney’s The Lion King” in Overture Hall, his first show at Overture Center. Seated in the balcony section, high above the majestic animal parade through the house and captivating scenes on stage, Holmes couldn’t help but feel far away and removed from the action. 

When Holmes joined Overture’s staff in August 2016, this personal experience guided the work he did in his role, first as director of diversity and inclusion, then vice president of equity and innovation and, since 2021, as chief equity and innovation officer, a position from which he retired on Friday, Aug. 16. 

“I want first-time theater goers, those who cannot afford Orchestra seats, to get the full theater experience,” he explained. “I want them to have up-close seats where they feel a part of what’s happening on stage.” 

In 2017, when watching “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical” from the Orchestra level, Holmes remembers the lead cast member singing “Natural Woman,” a song popularized by Aretha Franklin. It was so powerful Holmes was overcome with emotion. 

“I want others to experience those moments, too,” he said. 

Since then, Holmes has used his position at Overture to give under-represented audiences an opportunity to enjoy Overture as it was intended to be experienced.

Holmes, who worked in education during his first career, retiring from Madison West High School as principal before joining Overture, has always loved the arts and attending theater performances and concerts with his family and friends. He understands that people can’t have an appreciation for art if they don’t experience it. 

To bring new audiences to Overture Center, Holmes worked diligently to build relationships with a myriad of individuals and organizations throughout the Madison area. 

“A smart person once told me ‘You can’t do it all at once,’ you need to take the time to see what’s needed and what rises to the top in priority,” noted Holmes, emphasizing that relationships take cultivation.  

Some of Holmes’ most important work was in partnership with members of the Ho-Chunk Nation, Overture’s leadership and the Community Advisory Council to create a Land Recognition Statement to “honor the land of Indigenous people before us,” which is now shared online and with audiences before performances. 

In his eight years at Overture, Holmes has seen a lot of challenges—from the murder of George Floyd and protests on State Street to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ahead of many arts organizations, Overture had equity and innovation initiatives in place before civil unrest led to demands by the public for DEI statements across the country. Not one to act reactively with a superficial statement, Holmes led the executive team in creating an authentic, long-term Equity and Innovation Statement that represents the overall organization, a statement that can sustain the test of time and be embraced by our community. He also helped establish Overture’s Equity and Innovation Organizational Commitments.  

“Equity and inclusion at Overture weren’t a result of George Floyd. We were in operation before that,” said Holmes. “From day one, we wanted to be intentional and thoughtful in our journey and our approach, and to not be afraid to do that as an organization.” 

Holmes has always strived to find new ways to elevate Overture’s work and be ahead of the game. He explores what is important in the arts industry and how to better reflect the community Overture serves. 

One way to “open the doors” to the arts industry is through the Arts Career Exploration Spotlight (ACES), a program initiated by Holmes in 2019, paused during the pandemic and reimplemented this summer. ACES empowers Madison-area middle and high-school students of color to explore local arts organizations and career possibilities through hands-on experiences.

“The key to our future is engaging young people and ensuring there’s a pathway forward,” said Holmes. “ACES exposes kids to jobs in the arts industry, connects them with key players and provides training, so more people understand what jobs exist and what training they need to qualify. This will lead to more diversity across our industry.” 

Under Holmes’ leadership, the equity and innovation team has grown to three members, including Dr. Ida Balderrama-Trudell, director, and Allison Ward, program manager.  

“One of the reasons I was excited to join the Overture Center team was the vision that Dr. Holmes had for the growth of equity and innovation in the arts in the Madison area,” said Dr. Balderrama-Trudell. “The power of the arts to create transformative experiences, especially for diverse audiences, is at the heart of what we do. Our team is excited to continue this commitment through additional pathways programming, continued relationship building and strategic initiatives with community partners.” 

Holmes’ impact extends far beyond Overture’s walls. Upon the announcement of his retirement, our community responded with kudos and support.  

“A tenure with such legacy-shifting impact deserves to be acknowledged and celebrated,” said Kiah R. Calmese Walker, director of human resources operations, UnityPoint Health—Meriter. “Congratulations, Dr. Holmes, on your work, and thank you for all you’ve done for our community and Madison overall through the Overture!”  

Dr. Cheryl B. Gittens, owner/principal consultant, B. Ellavated Coaching & Consulting LLC, concurred: “Ed is a class act educator and leader with a special set of skills to develop talent, build bridges, shape culture and connect communities. I applaud and appreciate all he has given to Madison. Well done, well done!” 

Holmes has fostered a more inclusive and equitable environment and laid a strong foundation for ongoing diversity, equity and innovation efforts at Overture Center. We are grateful for his commitment to using the arts to bring people together, so everyone can be energized, uplifted and see themselves represented through arts experiences.  

As Dana Pellebon, executive director of RCC Sexual Violence Resource Center, noted, “Ed’s vision and legacy will live on in these spaces.” 

RETURN TO BLOG INDEX