Despite lack of funding, arts ready to shine
Despite Gov. Sam Brownback's cutting of funding for the Kansas Arts Commission, Brenda Meder is adamant the show will go on.
Meder, executive director of the Hays Arts Council, said she is "very disappointed" Brownback vetoed funding for the state arts agency.
Nonetheless, Meder said the board is "trying to regroup."
"Will we find a way to make it work?" she asked. "I have little doubt about that."
Meder views the move as a step backward, especially since Hays received the Governor's Arts Award as the 2010 Arts Community.
She said she fears education will be hit the hardest.
Meder said nearly $8,000 of her budget for arts and education would have been funded by a grant from the Kansas Arts Commission. She also had applied for a Kansas Arts on Tour grant, which had a $5,000 cap.
HAC historically has received an operational support grant which, based on last year's support, would have been between $4,500 and $5,000 for general programming.
"The overwhelming majority of grants that we would have enthusiastically been the beneficiaries of, at least $12,000 of that, are just things we do in the schools." she said. "And we know how hard education has been hit."
Besides funding from the Kansas Arts Commission, Meder said HAC receives revenue from memberships, fundraising events, grants and funds from other foundations.
"Kansas Arts Commission support was crucial to our organization," Meder said. "No one underwrites your energy bills, or your taxes, or your insurance, or sales taxes. When you get support from an entity like the Kansas Arts Commission that helps with infrastructure."
Hays features a variety of musicians and the Hays Symphony Orchestra, along with a variety of musical, theatrical and artistic productions among two high schools and Fort Hays State University, not to mention several dance studios and artist studios.
Arts entities in the community and their offerings include the following:
* Hays Arts Council/Hays Arts Center, 112 E. 11th -- Art gallery with year-round exhibits, including the annual Five State Photography Exhibition and the Smoky Hill Art Exhibition. Host of community gallery walks in spring, summer, fall and winter, and arts courses for adults and children.
* Fort Hays State University, 600 Park -- Moss-Thorns Gallery of Art, Encore Series, artistic exhibits, and theatrical and musical productions by students, faculty and guest artists.
* Heartland Community Theatre -- Musical and dinner theater productions. Email hctkansas@gmail.com.
* Thomas More Prep-Marian High School and Hays USD 489 schools -- annual theatrical and musical productions.