Arts Communities

The arts play a vital role in making communities better places to live. Cities and towns around Kansas are recognizing how important the arts are to ensure businesses thrive, children are educated, seniors are active and that people of all ages are engaged citizens.

We hope that communities throughout Kansas adopt the concept of creative communities and ensure that artists are involved in making our cities and towns great places to live by:

• Integrating the arts and artists into city planning and development

• Providing opportunities for artists to advance their careers while strengthening their roles in the community through public art and community art and education projects

• Supporting and encouraging attendance at museums, art centers, performing arts centers, classes and public art projects.

• Funding the arts at a sustainable level.

• Promoting their communities’ arts activities, events and festivals

For more on creative communities, go to Smart Communities and Community Arts Network.

If your community would like to hire a consultant to help with strategic planning and the arts, the Commission recommends:

• Martha Rhea, Salina: 785/825-9320 or

• Kate Van Cantfort, Hutchinson:

Suggested Readings:

• The Rise of the Creative Class
  Richard Florida

• The Creative Community Builders Handbook
  Tom Borrup

Rural Communities

• Kansas Commerce Department: Division of Rural Development

• Thriving Arts: Thriving Small Communities
  Based on the findings of a study conducted by the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council, Minnesota

• Arts Funding Opportunities