A message from the Kansas Arts Commission

To the Arts Supporters of Kansas,

The Kansas Arts Commission would like to thank board members, audience members, artists, arts administrators and everyone who cares about the arts in Kansas for their support during the 2010 legislative session.

Unfortunately, the legislature's budget dramatically decreased funding for the arts. The Kansas Arts Commission's total budget is estimated to be approximately $1.6 million for Fiscal Year 2011, which is down from $2.2 million in Fiscal Year 2010 (and down from the initial governor's budget of $2.5 million in Fiscal Year 2009). Slightly more than half of our budget will now come from the state -- two years ago, we received almost two-thirds from the state. Our budget hasn't been this low since 1989, when the buying power of a dollar was much greater. The national average for arts spending is 90 cents per person; however in Kansas, spending will now be 57 cents per person.

Despite these cuts, the Kansas Arts Commission remains committed to serving Kansas arts organizations, artists and communities through its grant programs and services, but grant dollars will be reduced substantially.

Together, all of us must advocate for increased support of the arts in our state in the coming year. Now is the time to become active and for everyone -- administrators, boards, audience members and people served -- to talk to local and state legislators, as well as business and community leaders about the value of the arts.

Tell them:

• The arts make our communities strong and vibrant.
• The arts mean jobs and economic development.
• Investment in the arts has been shown to be a sound policy for business, workforce development and government. 

Many thanks for all that you do.

more at the Kansas Arts Commission