Connie Rohde-Stanchfield, director of the C Gallery in Los Alamos, addresses the opening night reception crowd at the “That Significant Thing or Moment” exhibition of cell phone photographs. Courtesy photo.

Longtime arts advocate, artist and educator Connie Rohde-Stanchfield was recently recognized by the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors with a Resolution recognizing the 2013 Leadership in the Arts Award recipient. Third District Supervisor, Doreen Farr presented a Resolution from the Board of Supervisors stating: “On behalf of the Board of Supervisors, I congratulate Connie for her decades of work in the Arts in the North County and her significant role in bringing commerce and visitors to the Santa Ynez Valley, enriching the local arts scene, and supporting local schools.”

“Over the years, the Leadership in Arts award has given the Arts Commission an opportunity to publicly recognize the great achievements realized by exemplary citizens who through their vision, commitment, and dedication continue to infuse our regional arts and culture and increase access to arts in Santa Barbara County,” says Ginny Brush, executive director of the Arts Commission.

Connie Rohde-Stanchfield, photo by Jeffrey Bloom.

Rohde-Stanchfield has been an advocate for arts education for decades, first as the Director of the Family School in Los Olivos and and as the founder of Arts Outreach, a nonprofit organization, which still flourishes today and serves more than 3,000 students a year. It began as a small group of parents volunteering to share their talents in local public schools and through this hugely successful enterprise, has enriched the lives of thousands of local students.

 For more information visit www.sbartscommission.org.

 —Leslie Dinaberg

Originally published in Santa Barbara SEASONS on March 11, 2014.