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 benjamin.stanton@ks.gov 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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