The arts in Kansas are like a flowering prickly pear, deep-rooted in our native landscape, nurturing both body and mind, hearty and protective, and host to producers of vibrant expression, like scale insects that make cochineal red.

Earlier this year, the Kansas arts community came together in a grassroots effort to highlight the value of the arts, celebrating both our rich history and recent progress, while working to maintain momentum. Over the past few years, the state has successfully increased state-appropriated funding for the Kansas Arts Commission (KAC) from approximately $500,000 to $1.5 million. This boost had a huge impact, enhancing support for artists and organizations across Kansas through various grants and programs. With this increased financial backing, along with support from the National Endowment for the Arts and Mid-America Arts Alliance, arts leaders statewide have begun to establish a robust network of arts administrators and advocates. This initiative led to the formation of the Kansas Arts Network (KAN) and the Kansas Arts Network Annual Conference, previously known as the Kansas Arts Councils Symposium.

For the first time in over a decade, the Kansas Arts Network gathered advocates at the Kansas Capitol in January. We distributed information on the vital role of the arts in our communities, engaged with legislators, and attended committee meetings. These positive interactions motivated us as we asked for continued state funding for the Arts Commission while nurturing relationships. However, just about a month later, we learned that our advocacy had become even more crucial due to potential significant budget cuts for the Arts Commission, a setback we had not anticipated.

The arts community responded by mobilizing through word-of-mouth, social media, and numerous emails. KAN’s calls for support were widely noted, and our collective voice was heard. Thanks to the dedicated efforts of the arts community and the backing of Kansas legislators, the Kansas Arts Commission received $1 million, allocated in a 60/40 split: 60% of grant funds are designated for counties with populations of 85,000 or fewer, and 40% for those with more than 85,000. This year’s budgeting process was more complex than ever due to a budget shortfall and procedural changes, hinting at ongoing challenges in the coming year.

While the state legislature is adjourned until January 2026, it's good to connect with your representatives and express support for the arts, invite them to events or coffee, and share how the arts impact your life and livelihood. You can locate your representatives and senators here, review their votes and committee involvement, and most importantly, advocate for what matters to you: https://www.kslegislature.org.

If you are interested in joining a network of artists and arts administrators who are advocating for the work of artists in Kansas, consider joining the Kansas Arts Network. Individual memberships start at $10 a year. Join us in building our network of support while staying informed as we continue our efforts to keep Kansas a vibrant place to live. 

Also, the Kansas Arts Network Annual Conference is happening in Wichita, July 23-25! Register by July 11 to be a part of the event. Here, there will be more conversations about advocacy and other opportunities to engage throughout the state. https://www.kansasartsnetwork.com/events