Stephen Strosnider officially began his role as executive director of the Carroll County Arts Council last November, and it has been a busy year.
“It’s been very exciting to work with our relatively new team and the board of directors to bring new life to the Carroll County Arts Council and to our home, the beautiful Carroll Arts Center on Main Street in Westminster,” Strosnider said.
He grew up in Carroll County, graduated from Francis Scott Key High School and now lives in New Windsor with his wife, Tori, and two children. He believes he knows how important the arts are to our community. “It is exciting for me to bring my arts background and experience to help shape the future of the Carroll County Arts Council,” he said.
“A career in the arts is always evolving, and adaptability is essential. With my varied background, there’s hardly a job in the arts I haven’t done — from graphic design and costuming to scenic design and stage management. As an educator, I’ve had the privilege of leading hands-on courses spanning everything from welding to civil engineering and architecture.”
Strosnider should know what it takes. After graduating from Shenandoah University, he freelanced doing scenic design and directing theater in Washington, D.C. As an actor, he worked on TV shows such as “Veep” and “House of Cards,” as well as the Playwright Festivals at the Kennedy Center.
Always keeping close to home, Strosnider also participated in shows with the Glyndon Area Players, including “Hello, Dolly!” and “Mary Poppins,” as well as others at Carroll Community College, where he became the full-time technical director on staff, as well as teaching acting classes.
Strosnider jumped at the chance to become the technical director and adjunct faculty position at McDaniel College. “McDaniel holds such a special place in my heart. I knew the campus and the theater so well. Teaching My Design was a fantastic opportunity. This program is for first-year students, where they can discover their passion and match it with career possibilities.”
As a side job, Strosnider worked as a theater technician with the arts council, where he became familiar with its inner workings, staff and board. Soon after, he joined the arts council full-time as the assistant director of programs and operations, and focused on taking grants, contracts, and programming to the next level.
Finally, in 2024, Strosnider was hired as the new executive director of the arts council. His focus now is to ensure that every visitor, no matter age, interest, or ability, can find something they enjoy at the arts council, to spark creativity, welcome reflection and encourage connection.
Strosnider is proud to ensure that the arts council continues traditions like their partnerships with Common Ground on the Hill and Arts Alliance.
“We are grateful, too, for the enthusiastic support from our community, the Carroll County Government, and the City of Westminster. As a nonprofit, we simply cannot exist without those who are able to financially contribute to our mission, including our many active members, donors, sponsors, students, and those who generously purchase tickets for our events and performances,” said Strosnider.
“What is really important is identifying what kind of impact the arts council can have on people here in our community. Our plans are to elevate the impact of the arts council like never before,” Strosnider said.
An important part of how the arts council has impacted the community is through annual grants. Grants for artists, students, and creative arts organizations across the county, including college scholarships to one senior from every county high school (applications open in February) and the Glen Patterson Musical Instrument Bank, which provides musical instruments free of charge to county schools.
Strosnider is passionate about creating an arts ecosystem for all ages, interests and abilities, not just transactional events.
“We are the arts council, not just the arts center; we want to make programming available across the county,” Strosnider said. “This year might seem lighter, but we have a new staff, and we are taking our time to make clear strategic goals and processes. Our board is supportive of us taking stock of our history and accomplishments and building forward. We have several huge anniversaries coming up, so we want to make sure our community is present and a part of things because there is a difference between having resources and being a resource.”
In 2027, the Carroll Theater turns 90, the Carroll Arts Center will be 25 and, in 2029, the Carroll County Arts Council will celebrate 60 years. Strosnider wants everyone to know: “You are invited to be a part of the Carroll County Arts Council! It’s our arts council, let’s make something beautiful together.”
Connect with Stephen Strosnider at stephen@carrollcountyartscouncil.org.
Lyndi McNulty is the owner of Gizmo’s Art in Westminster. Her column, An Eye for Art, appears regularly in Life & Times.
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