Arts

A Conversation With New Director Of WSU's Ulrich Museum

Briana O’Higgins — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 10:51:00 +0000

Bob Workman was named director of the Ulrich Museum in November of last year. He has a strong arts and museum administration background that started at the Ulrich back when he was a student at Wichita State University in the late 1970s.

“This is the place that really launched my art career, so when the opportunity presented itself to return to Wichita and lead the Ulrich to its next phase of growth I was very excited to have that chance,” says Workman.

What New Funding Means For Kansas Arts Orgs (For Now)

Briana O’Higgins — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 11:00:00 +0000

The new agency formed to fill the gap in Kansas arts funding began it’s first round of grant opportunities this week, but the grants are very different from those that were offered through the now defunct Kansas Arts Commission.

New Kansas Arts Agency To Hold Public Meetings

Briana O’Higgins — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 17:19:21 +0000

The agency that was formed by the 2012 Kansas legislature to replace the Kansas Arts Commission is holding a series of public input meetings.

The Kansas Creative Arts Industries Commission (CAIC) seeks public input to guide future activities and to help draft a strategic plan for FY 2014 that starts July 1.

The CIAC was awarded $700,000 for operations and grants in fiscal year 2013. It was the first time that state funding was available for Kansas arts agencies since Gov. Sam Brownback fired the staff of the Kansas Arts Commission and vetoed arts funding in 2011.

Tony Nominated Actress Starring In Wichita Production Of 'Hello, Dolly!'

Carla Eckels — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 10:49:12 +0000

Tony-nominated, Olivier Award-winning actress Karla Burns is starring in the title role as Dolly Levi in the Broadway classic "Hello, Dolly!" at Wichita’s Forum Theatre. Actor Huron Breaux portrays Horace Vandergelder, the object of Dolly’s affection.

New Kansas Arts Commission Accepting Grant Proposals

Briana O’Higgins — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 11:52:22 +0000

The new state-run arts commission announced funding opportunities for Kansas arts agencies Tuesday.

The 7-month-old Kansas Creative Arts Industries Commission was created in response to the backlash over Gov. Sam Brownback's veto of arts funding in 2011. The new programs require grant seekers to propose projects that create jobs and grow the Kansas economy.

Gospel Music Executive To Start Network In Wichita

Carla Eckels — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 12:03:46 +0000

For more than two decades, Carla Williams has worked as a gospel music executive. She’s helped manage the careers of platinum and Grammy award-winning gospel artists.

A couple of years ago, she started her own company, CW Creative, and recently returned home to Wichita to start a new initiative to help area artists.

KMUW’s Carla Eckels talked with Williams about her expertise in the industry and launching The Gathering Network.

4 Ways Arts Funding In Kansas Has Changed

Briana O’Higgins — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 21:39:33 +0000

In 2011, Kansas became the first state in history to completely eliminate funding for the arts.

That resulted in the loss of more than $1 million in matching funds from the National Endowment for the Arts and other organizations. And, severely impacted hundreds of Kansas arts organizations.

New State Arts Agency Presents Strategic Plan, Hopes To Restore Federal Funds

Briana O’Higgins — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 11:59:03 +0000

Leaders in the Wichita arts community Wednesday met with the director of the newly formed Kansas Creative Arts Industries Commission to talk about the organization's strategic plan.

The Kansas Creative Arts Industries Commission is the organization formed by the state in the 2012 legislative session in response to the fallout after Gov. Sam Brownback vetoed all arts funding in 2011.

A Tribute To Gordon Parks On His 100th Birthday

Carla Eckels — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 12:09:17 +0000

Friday marks the centennial of the birth of photographer, composer, filmmaker and author Gordon Parks.

Celebrations have been held across the country in his honor, including several events at Wichita State University. Parks' third wife, Genevieve Young, spoke Thursday at Wichita State, which houses Parks' personal papers.

Young was former senior editor at Little Brown and Company and vice president of Bantam Books. She edited Gordon Parks' writings.

Film Highlights Kansas Farming In The Mid-Twentieth Century

Carla Eckels — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 12:10:09 +0000

A premiere of the film Harvesting the High Plains will take place Friday at Wichita's Orpheum Theatre.

The film takes western Kansas from the 1930's Dustbowl to post World War II and was inspired by a book of the same name written by the late Craig Miner, former Wichita State professor and Kansas historian.

Director Jay Kriss says the film is a story about a farming operation that started in the middle of the Dustbowl but basically turned the American desert into the breadbasket of the world.