In support of the Kansas Arts Commission
Our elected leaders knew in the 1930s that “artists were workers and art was cultural labor worthy of government support.” Artists employed through the Works Progress Administration helped bring our country out of the Great Depression.
In a move that is political positioning at best, Governor Brownback has proposed dropping the Kansas Arts Commission from the state budget.
Were this decision math-based, our state would likely be expanding the Arts Commission, which offers grants and awards to artists statewide. The KAC sent out nearly 75% of its $2.1 million budget in 2010 in grants to programs in Kansas counties, according to their annual report.
A significant portion (more than half) of the Arts Commission’s funding comes from grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Mid-America Arts Alliance. These are regional and federal dollars coming to Kansas for the sole purpose of arts development, and they are only available if we have a state arts commission.
Even a politically or socially motivated decision is questionable. The Arts Commission, as a state agency, has a rigorous application process. The bulk of its grants go to local Arts Councils and agencies, libraries, and fine arts organizations like theatres, and symphonies, orchestras. In 2010, there were almost 300 grantees in more than 50 Kansas counties.
The Kansas Arts Commission is an economic development agency. Its grants help to employ people, help people purchase goods and services, create educational experiences and enrich rural and urban communities across the state.
Tags: arts, Brownback, Chords & Oil, Kansas Arts Commission