The Santa Barbara County Arts Commission’s announcement of this year’s Leadership in the Arts Award will take place at a festive celebration and holiday gathering in the Channing Peake Gallery during 1st Thursday in Downtown Santa Barbara on Dec. 3. Chair Barbara Burger will present the award on behalf of the Arts Commission to longtime arts education advocates Bill Cirone, county superintendent of schools; and Tina Fanucchi, past director of the Public Education Foundation.
The Leadership in the Arts Award was established in 2006 as an annual honor to recognize individuals or organizations that have made a significant impact on the arts and culture of the region through innovative thinking and exemplary commitment to promoting, sustaining, and advancing quality of life through the arts.
Second District Supervisor Susan Rose was the first recipient of the award. Since then, it’s gone to Santa Maria artist, arts educator, and arts advocate Nat Fast in 2007 and to Guadalupe residents Joe and Margie Talaugon for their commitment, community involvement, and support for art and cultural activities through their development of the Guadalupe Cultural Arts and Education Center that opened its doors in 2002.
For more information, visit sbartscommission.org.
This article appears in Nov 26 – Dec 3, 2009.