University Daily Kansan
Wednesday, August 18, 1976
9
Arts Center breathes new vitality into old library
Bv CAROL HOCHSCHEID
EVANS SAID she hoped that this fall's membership drive would provide additional funds necessary to pay for operating expenses.
"We don't have a lot of money, but we'll do with what we have."
Many Lawrence residents still think of the brick building at Ninth and Vermont streets as the city library, but for more than a year it has been the Lawrence Arts Center.
"The building does have to survive on fees, donations and grants," she said.
The center's staff includes the director, a secretary and teacher. Volunteers serve in many capacities at the Center, and more are always needed, Evans said.
"There are still a lot of people in Lawrence who don't know what the Arts Center is," Ann Evans, director of the Center, said.
"Just the other day we had a woman come in who wanted to return a book," she also
THE CENTER leases the historic
venture, including,
stood vacant for two years.
Since April 1975, the Center has served as a central location for a variety of art programs in Lawrence. Visual and performance art is accessible to all Lawrence residents. Evans said.
Staff pho
Even though the library building is still owned and maintained by the city, the Center has done much to renovate its interior.
This summer, the Center was involved in planning the Fourth of July weekend "Prairie Chaucaquet." Evans, who was chairman of the event, said there had been a festival of outdoor performances and exhibits an annual event in Lawrence.
MANY OF these activities are sponsored and organized by the Center.
A major part of the Center's programming involves classes for adults and children. Weekly classes in weaving, drawing, painting, acting and creative writing will begin in September, Evans said.
"We want to utilize the building to its fullest," Evans said.
in the Center's gallery, which is open to the public.
As the coordinator of all Lawrence art activities, the Center is "somewhat an information center for community activities in the arts." Evans said.
No performances have been scheduled for early fall, but Evans said she hoped the hall would eventually have a regular schedule of performances throughout each week.
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NEW WIRING has been installed in much of the building, the pine and marble floors have been cleaned and polished, the office has been polished and office spaces have been created.
“A lot of our time around here is spent planning classes,” she said.
DURING THE SUMMER, she said, the
catalyst caused by the "noise
level raises considerably.
Local artists' work can be seen on displa
Evans said renovation of the Center's performance hall would take place during August and September. Donations collected last spring through a fund drive will provide installation of theatrical lighting, a new furniture and a grand piano for the hall.
In addition to classes, children can participate in the Summer Youth Theater program that presents a production in June and July.
Winning quilts in the Bicentennial Quilt Competition were displayed in the gallery
IN MARCH the Center will sponsor a juried painting exhibition. Evans said she encouraged KU students to enter work in the show.
Evans said she hoped the program would be continued this year, and added that she would keep her program running.
Last year the Lawrence public schools' fine arts program for gifted children, "Growth in Future Talent," (GIFT), was conducted in the Center. Ninety children selected for the program met thursday at classes in dance, visual arts and theater.
EXHIBITS are already scheduled for all of next veek. Evans said.
During September, photographs and a slide presentation by Ron Smith, award-winning photographer for the Lawrence Journal World, will be exhibited, she said.
Work by two University of Kansas graduate fine arts students will also be displayed. One student's show will consist of his own jewelry, the other will consist of jewelry, she said.
Another photography show, "Cowboys and Indians," can be seen during October, she said. This exhibit will include exhibits of Kansas rodeos and Indian powwows.
couldn't be exposed to this sort of arts program through the schools.
"The Seem-to-Be Players" present a show in the Center ever, Saturday afternoon at the Children's group's director. Rick AveriII, is presented for children by the group adult
PLANS ARE underway to organize a community theater group this fall, Evans
"There is too much good local talent to bring in performers to Lawrence," she said. The Center also provides meeting space for local art organizations.
Evans said the Center tried to make all programs available to the entire community. Any fees collected are used to pay for the facility's facilities and improve programming.
THE CENTER is incorporated as a non-profit organization with a seven-member board of directors, which works in various capacities for Evans and the Lawrence Arts Commission.
Last year, 20 per cent of the Center's total operating budget was provided by the Kansas Arts Commission, which allocates funds made available by the state and the foundation shown below (Evans, Evans said she expected $5,000 of those funds to be available this year to the Center).
An organization must be in existence for three years before it can apply directly for National Endowment for the Arts funding, and for the Center to fund the Center would apply for those funds.
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