Wichita Arts Council goes pro with new executive role
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — The Wichita Arts Council has announced the appointment of Connie Bonfy as its first-ever Executive Director, ushering in a new era of professional leadership for the long-standing nonprofit.
Bonfy, an experienced arts advocate and fundraiser, will step into the newly created role on May 12. Her appointment signals a strategic shift for the Arts Council, which has operated as a volunteer-led organization for decades.
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The Council says Bonfy will focus on expanding partnerships, strengthening advocacy, and building the fundraising and marketing infrastructure needed to support and grow the region's creative ecosystem.
'Wichita's art and cultural leadership is in a vital transformational period,' Matthew Broderick, Board President of the Arts Council, said in a news release. 'Connie brings both the vision and the practical experience we need to grow.'
Bonfy has held leadership roles at Ballet Wichita and the Salina Arts & Humanities Commission, as well as stewardship positions at Butler and Cowley Community Colleges. She is a two-time recipient of the Kansas Governor's Arts Award, including the 2025 Arts Legacy Award, and received the Wichita Arts Council's 2019 Gordon W. Evans Award for Leadership.
'This city is filled with creative energy, and I'm honored to help build the infrastructure, partnerships, and visibility that our incredible artists and cultural organizations deserve,' Bonfy said in a statement. 'Together, we will create. Connect. Transform.'
The Arts Council says its move to professional leadership reflects its commitment to playing a larger role in Wichita's cultural and economic development.
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