Mission and History

The mission of the Kansas Arts Commission is to provide opportunities for the people of Kansas to experience, celebrate and value the arts throughout their lives.

Founded in 1966, the Kansas Arts Commission, a state agency, serves the people of Kansas through grants to organizations and support of artists. Arts and culture organizations, schools and colleges, libraries, and recreation and parks programs are just some of the agencies that benefit from the Kansas Arts Commission.

Funded through the Kansas legislature and the National Endowment for the Arts, the Kansas Arts Commission is committed to finding ways to support and nurture the growth of arts in all Kansas Communities.

In addition to its grant-making, the Kansas Arts Commission offers workshops, seminars and conferences that assist organizations and artists in building capacity, growing audiences and developing the vital business skills necessary to achieve success in the arts in the 21st century. The KAC seeks partnerships with local, regional and national leaders in the arts and – together with the Kansas Historical Society, the Kansas Humanities Council, the Kansas Film Commission and the State Library of Kansas – is a member of the Governor’s Council of the Arts and Culture.