Dorchester District Two Fine Arts Coordinator Larry Barnfield received the prestigious Mac Arthur Goodwin Award from the Columbia Museum of Art during their annual meeting on Friday, May 23, 2008. This annual award honors individuals who foster progress in visual arts education through the successful utilization of community arts resources; it creates a greater awareness of South Carolina's arts resources such as museums and arts centers; and it encourages collaboration among community organizations that implement visual arts programming.

Mr. Barnfield began his career in the district as a visual arts teacher at Summerville High School in 1996. He assumed the role of district Fine Arts Coordinator in 2000 and since that time has expanded fine arts programs in every school. Last year, he was successful in securing a $900,000 3-year grant from the U.S. Department of Education to implement an arts infused curriculum at Alston Middle School.

Over the course of his career in arts education, Mr. Barnfield has received numerous awards including being named a finalist for South Carolina Teacher of the Year. In addition, he serves as a Vice President of the National Art Education Association and is on the Board of Directors of the South Carolina Art Education Association. He is a respected advocate for arts education throughout the community, the state, and the nation.

This state award, established in 2002, is named for Mac Arthur Goodwin, a longtime South Carolina artist and arts educator. Mr. Goodwin is known for the tremendous strides he has made in development of visual and performing arts education. All nominees must be South Carolina residents currently active in the program for which they have been nominated. Nominees must demonstrate effectiveness by facilitating programs, collaborations and initiatives that are regarded as successful and innovative by their peers as well as their constituents and all nominees must demonstrate a vision for visual arts education that involves partnership and collaboration between two or more groups. Past recipients are Dr. Philip C. Dunn, chairman of University of South Carolina's Art Department and Dr. Cynthia Colbert who has long held national, as well as international, recognition as an early childhood art educator. Both recipients were awarded the Mac Arthur Goodwin Award for their unwavering commitment and dedication to the visual arts.