Category Archives: Gordon Parks Museum

Art, Gordon Parks Museum, Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes

Kansas Arts Commission Funds Creative Projects Across State: Two Fort Scott Recipients

July 23, 2024 Submitted Story Leave a comment

Editor’s note: the following from Fort Scott have been awarded:

Gordon Parks Museum Foundation	Bourbon	$16,000	General Operating Support
Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes, Inc.	Bourbon	$6,800	Visiting Artists

TOPEKA — Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland today announced $1,295,450 has been awarded to 108 recipients in the latest round of Kansas Arts Commission (KAC) grant funding. The funds will support museums, arts education, music, dance, visual arts, professional and community theater, creative writing, murals, poetry and other creative projects.

Grants were awarded in 42 counties, with funding going to counties in rural locations such as Graham, Sheridan and Chase, as well as urban areas including Johnson, Sedgwick and Shawnee counties.

“It is important for the state to engage, connect and support the abundant creativity that can be found throughout Kansas,” Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “The Kelly-Toland Administration knows strategic investments in the arts enrich our communities, strengthen our economy, and enhance our quality of life — all which make our state the best in the nation to live, work and play.”

The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis reported in 2022 that arts and cultural production accounted for 2.2% of the Kansas economy (as a share of state GDP), contributing more than 41,000 jobs.

KAC awarded four types of grants:

The Arts Everywhere grant provides funding for programs, exhibition, series or other arts and culture projects
The General Operating Support grant funds the general operations of an arts organization
The Visiting Artists grant brings professional artists to audiences for performances and community interaction
The Public Art and Murals grant supports art that highlights community pride and local history

“We are grateful for the 57 volunteer panelists who help this process run effectively and efficiently,” Kansas Arts Commission Director Curtis Young said. “Because of their time and dedication, we are able to fund a wide array of community projects across Kansas.”

Funding for Kansas Arts Commission grants comes from the Kansas Legislature and the National Endowment for the Arts.

To view the full list of recipients, click here. To learn more about the Kansas Arts Commission or funding opportunities, click here or contact Ben Stanton at [email protected] or (785) 213-5959.

About the Kansas Department of Commerce:

As the state’s lead economic development agency, the Kansas Department of Commerce strives to empower individuals, businesses and communities to achieve prosperity in Kansas. Commerce accomplishes its mission by developing relationships with corporations, site location consultants and stakeholders in Kansas, the nation and world. Our strong partnerships allow us to help create an environment for existing Kansas businesses to grow and foster an innovative, competitive landscape for new businesses. Through Commerce’s project successes, Kansas was awarded Area Development Magazine’s prestigious Gold Shovel award in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024, and was awarded the 2021 and 2022 Governor’s Cup by Site Selection Magazine.

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Gordon Parks Museum

Timken Foundation of Canton Awards Grant to the Gordon Parks Museum

June 24, 2024 Submitted Story Leave a comment

Contact Name: Kirk Sharp FOR IMMEDIATE
Phone: 620-223-2700, ext. 5850 RELEASE
Email: [email protected]
Website: gordonparkscenter.org

Fort Scott, Kan. June. 24, 2024 –The Gordon Parks Museum is very excited to announce that the Timken
Foundation of Canton has awarded a grant in the amount of $46,000.00 to the Gordon Parks Museum. This
generous award will fund the museum’s technology and interactive displays expansion project that will focus
on the visitors’ experience and engagement throughout the museum and for events.
The expansion will include the purchase of over six large (43 to 86-inch) interactive touch screen displays and
monitors with portable stands with tilting capabilities, printer and high-resolution scanner, digital video
cameras, upgraded laptops, tablets, hard drives and panel displays for photographs and poetry exhibitions.
This expansion will also include audio devices for visitors with hearing disabilities to help make the museum
more accessible.
“We are truly grateful to the Timken Foundation for this incredible investment and support of our museum,”
said Gordon Parks Museum Executive Director, Kirk Sharp. “This grant will give us the ability to significantly
update and enhance the museum’ visitor experience with the expansion of technology and accessibility
throughout the museum. We can’t thank Timken enough for this wonderful and very generous gift.”
For more information about the Gordon Parks Museum at 620-223-2700 ext.5850 or visit
http:www.gordonparkscenter.org/.
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Gordon Parks Museum

Revised Summer Hours at the Gordon Parks Museum

June 24, 2024 Submitted Story Leave a comment

Revised Summer Hours at the Gordon Parks Museum

Fort Scott, Kan. June. 24, 2024 – The Gordon Parks Museum revised summer hours will be Monday through
Thursday, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The museum will be closed every Friday along with the Fort Scott Community
College campus starting this Friday, June 28 through July 26, 2024. For more information or to schedule a tour, contact
the museum by email at [email protected] or by phone at 223-2700, ext. 5850.
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Fort Scott, Gordon Parks Museum

Freedom’s Frontier NHA grant awarded to The Gordon Parks Museum

June 19, 2024 Submitted Story Leave a comment

The Gordon Parks Museum received $1,000 in grant funding from Freedom’s Frontier National Heritage Area. The award will help with the museum’s technology and interactive display expansion for the purchase of a large 65-inch monitor display and mobile cart.

This purchase will help us to expand the museum, through the use of this monitor to provide slide shows of Gordon’s photographs, interviews, related films and videos along with other artist works that are inspired by Gordon’s remarkable career to fight against racism, poverty and discrimination.

The monitor will also be used as an additional monitor display for viewing, during presentations and events. This monitor can also provide promotional signage for future events and information for the museum.

“We are thrilled to be an award recipient of the Freedom’s Frontier NHA grant,” said Gordon Parks Museum Executive Director, Kirk Sharp.” We are excited to have this display installed, so to better enhance the visitor’s experience in our museum and for events.”

The goal to have the monitor and mobile cart installed and available for visitor’s use is August 1, 2024.

For more information about The Gordon Parks Museum visit gordonparkscenter.org

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Freedom’s Frontier National Heritage Area (FFNHA) is a federally funded nonprofit organization and affiliate of the National Park Service dedicated to building awareness of the struggle for freedom along the Missouri-Kansas border. Established by Congress in 2006, its nationally significant themes are the settlement of the frontier, the Missouri-Kansas Border War and Civil War, and the enduring struggle for freedom. These diverse, interwoven, and nationally important stories grew from a unique physical and cultural landscape. FFNHA inspires respect for multiple perspectives and empowers residents to preserve and share these stories. We achieve our goals through interpretation, preservation, conservation, and education for all residents and visitors.

Gordon Parks Museum

Local Museum Is Participating in 2024 Kansas Tourism Sunflower Summer Progam

May 16, 2024 Submitted Story Leave a comment

The Gordon Parks Museum is a Venue for the Kansas Sunflower Summer Program

Fort Scott, Kan. – The Gordon Parks Museum is proud to announce its participation in the 2024 Kansas Tourism Sunflower Summer program. The Gordon Parks Museum Celebrates the life and work of Gordon Parks, internationally known photographer, filmmaker, writer and musician.

The Sunflower Summer Program is a benefit for Kansas families with school-aged children to encourage them to explore, and fall in love, with Kansas. The program is designed to give affordable access to tourism attractions across the state and support the Kansas tourism economy. Eligible Kansas families will download the Sunflower Summer App to claim tickets to participating venues. The 2024 Sunflower Summer season will run from May 25 – August 11.

“We are thrilled to be a venue for the 2024 Kansas Sunflower Summer program,” said Gordon Parks Museum, Executive Director, Kirk Sharp. “This opportunity allows us to welcome Kansas families to our attraction and provide them with an unforgettable experience.”

Kansas Tourism, a division of the Kansas Department of Commerce, aims to inspire travel to and throughout Kansas to maximize the positive impacts that tourism has on our state and local communities.

“Kansas Tourism is excited to have The Gordon Parks Museum as a part of the Sunflower Summer program,” said Kansas Tourism Director, Bridgette Jobe. “This program is an amazing benefit for the residents of Kansas, and we are looking forward to growing the program in the 2024 season. The Gordon Parks Museum is an important part of making this the best season yet for the program.”

For more information about The Gordon Parks Museum visit gordonparkscenter.org To discover more about the Sunflower Summer program, visit SunflowerSummer.org.

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About The Gordon Parks Museum: The Gordon Parks Museum celebrates the life and work of Gordon Parks, internationally-known photographer, filmmaker, writer, and musician. The Gordon Parks Museum strives to use his remarkable life story to teach about artistic creativity, cultural awareness and the role of diversity in our lives.

About Sunflower Summer: Sunflower Summer is a program operated by Kansas Tourism, a division of the Kansas Department of Commerce. The program aims to help Kansas families affordably explore the Sunflower State. The official Sunflower Summer mobile app is available on Apple and Android. More information can be found at SunflowerSummer.org

Art, Gordon Parks Museum

The 2024 Gordon Parks Museum to feature Poetry Contest

April 17, 2024 Submitted Story Leave a comment

Fort Scott, Kan. April.17, 2024 – The Gordon Parks Museum at Fort Scott Community College, will feature a poetry contest sponsored by poet and Fort Scott native, Helen Townsend and Trabar & Associates. The theme of the contest is “What Fills Your Hungry Heart?” This contest is inspired by a quote from Gordon Parks, “I’ve lived a lot, worked a lot, and smiled a lot. And I will cling to all of those blessings until my hungry heart is hopelessly exhausted.”

This is open to any emerging poets who have not yet been published in a book. Poets are invited to capture the essence of the theme.

Emerging poets of any ages and skill level are invited to write a poem for this contest and may enter up to one poem. There will be a first place ($200), second place ($150) and third place ($100) prize and up to five honorable mentions. Winners will be announced at the Gordon Parks Celebration. All poems submitted will be on exhibit during the 21st annual Gordon Parks Celebration on Oct. 3 – 5, 2024. All Poems will also be posted on the Gordon Parks Website and Facebook page.

Judges for the poetry contest will be Traci Brimhall, Kansas Poet Laureate and Kansas State University Professor and Annette Hope Billings, Poet from Topeka, Kansas.

Poems must be submitted via e-mail to [email protected]. Poems are limited to one page. All entries should be typed and submitted as a word document only. Attachments (including pdf’s, pictures, google docs., etc.) are not accepted. Type or ‘copy and paste’ your poem into the body of your email. Poets should submit poem in with the title, their name, address, email, and phone number. If under 14 years old please include parent’s information. Poems should be received via email by Wednesday, September 18, 2024 at the latest.

For more information, email [email protected] or by phone call 223-2700, ext. 5850.

“An Ode to White Rice, Ketchup, and Heuvo Frito.”, by Zian Butler Perez, Manassas, VA – 1^st place winner in the 2023 Poetry Contest. The theme was: “Family, Home and Roots”.

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Gordon Parks Museum, History

Gordon Parks Museum offers Hughes-Parks Traveling Exhibit Display

April 15, 2024 Submitted Story Leave a comment

Fort Scott, Kan. April. 15, 2024 – A panel-display exhibit featuring the collaborations and connections between Gordon Parks and Langston Hughes is now available for temporary loan-out to educational entities and organizations across the state of Kansas.

Titled “Harlem Renaissance and the Renaissance Man,” the display highlights and explores the history, journey and friendship of the two men, one a poet (Hughes) and the other a photographer (Parks), and their impact on the arts.

The museum has four identical versions of the panel display ready to travel to schools, colleges, universities, libraries, etc. The displays were made possible through an award grant with Humanities Kansas and support by Kansas Tourism.

“The exhibit display creates a great opportunity in helping to keep both of the legacies and triumphs of Langston Hughes and Gordon Parks alive,” said Kirk Sharp, museum, executive director.

The panels are 36-inches-by-91-inches and include graphics, photos and text information and a QR code. They come with a carrying case with wheels that can easily be moved for display at varying locations. There is no charge for renting the displays, but certain fees might apply for delivery, set-up, shipping, etc.

For more information, contact the museum by phone at (620) 223-2700, ext. 5850, or by email at [email protected].

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Art, Bourbon County, Fort Scott, Gordon Parks Museum

The 2024 Gordon Parks Museum to feature Photo Contest

April 8, 2024 Submitted Story Leave a comment

Contact Name: Kirk Sharp

Phone: 620-223-2700, ext. 5850

Email: [email protected]

Website: gordonparkscenter.org

Fort Scott, Kan. April. 8, 2024 – The Gordon Parks Museum at Fort Scott Community College, will feature a photo contest sponsored by Merl Humphrey Photography. The theme of the contest is “What Fills Your Hungry Heart?”. This event is inspired by a quote from Gordon Parks, “I’ve lived a lot, worked a lot, and smiled a lot. And I will cling to all of those blessings until my hungry heart is hopelessly exhausted.”

This is open to any amateur photographer. Photographers are invited to capture the essence of the theme.

Non-professional photographers of any age and skill level are invited to take pictures for the project and may enter up to two photos in JPEG format with less than 2MB. There will be a first place ($100), second place ($75) and third place ($50) prize and up to five honorable mentions. All of the photos submitted that are accepted, will be on exhibit at The Gordon Parks Museum and in the Ellis Family Fine Arts Center Oct. 3 – 5, 2024. All accepted photos will also be posted on the Gordon Parks Museum website and Facebook page. Judges for the photo contest will be professional photographer, Veretta Cobler and established make-up artist and hair stylist, Donna Fumoso based in New York City.

Photographs must be submitted via e-mail to [email protected]. All photos must be attached in JPEG format and limit file size to less than 2 MB. All entries will be confirmed to be accepted via email. Photographers should submit (in their email) a title, along with their name, address, email, phone number and share a one or two sentence on what inspired the photo. If under 14 years old, please include parent’s information. Photos should be received via email by Wednesday, September 18, 2024 at the latest.

For more information, email [email protected] or by phone call 223-2700, ext. 5850.

“Family Legacy” by Karen Cayce, Wichita, KS was the 1^st place winner in the 2023 Photo Contest. The theme was: ““Family, Home and Roots””.

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Fort Scott, Gordon Parks Museum

Live Jazz Performance On March 21 At Ellis Center

March 20, 2024 Submitted Story Leave a comment

Sending on behalf of Chamber Member Gordon Parks Museum…

Live Jazz Performance!

Join the Gordon Parks Museum for a night of character and story of Gordon Parks expressed through LIVE Jazz Performance!

The Honorary Gordon Parks Quintet Featuring:

Nate McClendon – Saxophone

Paul Hunt – Trombone

Desmond Mason – Piano

Nsiko Dieu-aime – Bass

Robert Rodriguez – Drums

Free and Open to the Public

Thursday, March 21st, 2024

Danny & Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center

7:30pm

For more information contact the Gordon Parks Museum at 620.223.2700 ext. 5857

Thank you to our Chamber Champion members below!

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Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce | 231 E. Wall Street, Fort Scott, KS 66701

Art, Entertainment, Fort Scott, Fort Scott Community College, Gordon Parks Museum

Gordon Parks Self Portrait “Live Jazz Event” Is March 21: Free and Open To The Public

March 14, 2024 Submitted Story Leave a comment

Gordon Parks: Self Potrait “Live Jazz Event”

Fort Scott, Kan. Friday. March 14, 2024 – Beach Museum of Art Specialist and Musician Nate McClendon will be at the Danny and Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center Theater on Thursday, March 21, 2024, to present his Gordon Parks: Self Portrait in music and narration with a live jazz band. The performance starts at 7:30p.m. and doors open at 7:00p.m. This is a free community event.

This performance was inspired by the exhibition Homeward to the Prairie I Come: Photographs by Gordon Parks from the Beach Museum of Art at Kansas State University organized by the Beach Museum with support from Art Bridges, a philanthropic organization dedicated to expanding access to American art. This music and narration event is free and open to the public of all ages courtesy of Art Bridges. It is part of the Gordon Parks Convening at the Ellis Fine Arts Center, March 20 – 22, a collaboration with the Beach Museum of Art and the Gordon Parks Museum funded by Art Bridges. The convening will have over twelve museum professionals from across the nation at Fort Scott learning more about Gordon Parks and his works.

For information on the Gordon Parks: Self Portrait Live Jazz event, contact Kirk Sharp, executive director, (620) 223-2700, ext. 5850, or at [email protected].

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Art, Bourbon County, Entertainment, Fort Scott, Gordon Parks Museum

Portrait of Gordon Parks: An Evening of Interpretive Jazz Event

February 23, 2024 Submitted Story Leave a comment

Beach Museum of Art Specialist and Musician Nate McClendon will be at the Danny and Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center Theater on Thursday, March 21, 2024, to present his portrait of Gordon Parks in music and narration with a jazz band.

The performance starts at 7:30 p.m. and doors open at 7 p.m.

This performance was inspired by the exhibition Homeward to the Prairie I Come: Photographs by Gordon Parks from the Beach Museum of Art at Kansas State University organized by the Beach Museum with support from Art Bridges, a philanthropic organization dedicated to expanding access to American art.\

This music and narration event is free and open to the public of all ages courtesy of Art Bridges. It is part of the Gordon Parks
Convening at the Ellis Fine Arts Center, March 20 – 22, a collaboration with the Beach Museum of Art and the
Gordon Parks Museum funded by Art Bridges. The convening will have over twelve museum professionals from across the nation at Fort Scott learning more about Gordon Parks and his works.

For information on the Portrait of Gordon Parks: Interpretive Jazz event, contact Kirk Sharp, executive director,
620) 223-2700, ext. 5850, or at [email protected].
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Fort Scott, Gordon Parks Museum, Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes

Chamber Coffee Hosted by Gordon Parks Museum/Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes

February 13, 2024 Submitted Story Leave a comment

Join us for Chamber Coffee!

Thursday, February 15th, 8am

Hosted by the Gordon Parks Museum and the Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes at the Gordon Parks Museum

2108 South Horton

The Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes and the Gordon Parks Museum will be having a combined Chamber Coffee in honor of Black History Month and the Unsung Hero and Black Musician James Reese Europe. The Lowell Milken Center and the Gordon Parks Museum is asking the community to join them at 11:00am on February 15^th for a special event which includes a soup lunch, the FSHS Jazz Band, Speaker Lem Sheppard, and a cakewalk! Join us this Thursday for nourishment, not only for your morning caffeine but for your brain as well!