(WICHITA, Kan.)—
The Wichita City Council votes to give more than $3.1 million in grant money to the arts."Its remarkable in the economic environment that we have today that the city continues to support arts at the level they do, said Bob Lamkey, Cultural Funding Program Chairman.
That support started five years ago, when council members created the Cultural Funding Program and allocated one mill of its general tax levy to funding the arts.
Most of the money goes to Cowtown, the Wichita Art Museum and other city-owned and operated facilities.
But smaller groups, like the Kansas African American museum, can also get help. It will receive almost $20,000 from the city in 2012, which is just a part of its overall budget.
"Every little bit counts," said museum Executive Director Prisca Barnes. "When you are a non-profit organization, small funds can add up over time."
The money is especially helpful this year, since lawmakers in Topeka decided to eliminate all state funding for the arts. That is forcing agencies to instead look for more private donations.
"The state has chosen to go down a different path that truthfully hasn't been done by another state," said John D'Angelo, Director of Wichita City Arts. "Doesn't mean its a bad idea, it simply is a different way of approaching it"
Twenty different agencies will receive grant money in 2012 thanks to Tuesday's vote by the Wichita city council.
