University Daily Kansan / Friday, May 5, 1989
Arts/Entertainment
$pending on the art$
By Christine Winner Kansan staff writer
Kansas is taking a chance and gambling on the arts.
Washington, D.C. Arts Commission enjoyed
The Kansas Arts Commission enjoyed an 83.8 percent increase in financing this year — the second largest increase in the nation — and Kansas artists have the state lottery to thank.
Most of the increase came from the Economic Initiative Development Fund, which is fed by lottery money, said Dorothy Ligen, executive director of the Kansas Arts Commission.
Although Kansas artists can be pleased with the increase in revenue, there's no guarantee that the windfall will continue or that all requests for money can be granted.
In state financing for the arts, Kansas ranks 42nd out of 56 states, territories and federal jurisdictions. Last year, it ranked 52nd.
"Forty-two is really good." Hilgen said. "Getting the additional funding is what made it happen. Ranking 52nd didn't reflect the vitality of art in Kansas, but it is nice to be out of the box."
Hawaii had the highest per capita rating and spent $6.23 per person for the arts, compared to Kansas' 43 cents per person. Louisiana ranked last.
last.
Neighboring state Missouri ranked 17th, Oklahoma ranked 24th, Nebraska ranked 33th and Colorado ranked 45th.
Risky business
Igen said the commission hoped that Kansans continue to play the lottery because it doesn't have another source of funds to fall back on.* Many newly initiated programs would be cut or eliminated if the fund dried up, she said.
Sally Launen, member of the Kansas Arts Commission Advisory Council in Dodge City, sai she was not at all comfortable depending on lottery money for financing.
"It was a tremendous one-time boost, but we're not going to depend on it to bail us out," Luallen said. "It does speak very well for the Legislature that they awarded it to the arts. It sent a very clear statement that this is a priority."
Ilgen agrees.
"I think the Legislature, to the best of their ability, have given all they can in recognition that the KAC does have an impact in the quality of life and economic development in the state,"
But the commission hopes the increased support continues.
"We will continue to make the case that arts are good business." Ilgén said.
Each dollar invested in the arts in Kansas returns at least $3 to the Kansas economy, she
Kansas Arts Commission money is seed money, she said. Ilgen said $800,000 allocated across the state was matched by $9.1 million in
In state financing for the arts, Kansas ranks 42nd out of 56 states, territories and federal jurisdictions. Last year, it ranked 52nd.
private and municipal support in fiscal year 1988, from July 1, 1987 to June 30, 1988.
Arts programs are labor intensive, she said, employing not only artists but technicians, bookkeepers, etc. The arts have an impact on the job market and the quality of life in the state.
Grants and fellowships
Roger Shimomura, KU professor of art, is one artist who has benefited from the additional funds.
He submitted 10 slides and a resume to compete in The Artists Fellowship Program, sponsored by the commission. He won a $5,000 fellowship in the two-dimensional art category. Nine awards were given in nine different categories.
He said he was using the money to buy audiovisual equipment for his performance art. He has applied and received several grants from the commission.
Grants are for proposed projects and fellowships are for work accomplished.
Somnumura said the Kansas Arts Commission was more important to arts organizations than to individuals. He said he thought that way because that way would allow a program became part of the commission's programs.
"I have lived here 20 years and there just isn't any support here," he said. "I said, 'What do you mean, the Laughan said.'"
"I think the hope is if we support arts councils and arts agencies, those in turn will encourage artists. The climate is so far ahead of 15 years ago. An artist can now make a living actually being an artist," she said.
Paul Liam, a KU lecturer in English and a playwright, said it seemed that commission's policy was to help as many people and groups as possible, even if the amount of money as was small. He said it worked if the larger artists benefit through a trickle-down theory.
behind through a library. For example, the Lawrence Community Theatre performs original, local scripts. When it applies for and receives grants from the commission, part of the grant is often shared with the playwright, Lim said.
He said the fellowship was one of the more generous throughout the country. He also said it was a little unusual because the commission did not require the artists to tell how they spend the money, although it is assumed that it will be used to further their careers.
Lim won a fellowship from the commission for his play "Mother Tongue." He said he was surprised to learn that his fellowship had come
from lottery money.
"I'm the happy recipient of some people's evil gambling desires," he said, laughing.
Holding the purse strings
The Kansas Arts Commission was founded in 1966 when former President Lyndon B. Johnson established a national endowment for the arts, said Bob Burth, information coordinator for the commission.
the commission is a 12-member board of citizens appointed by the governor.
A staff of eight full-time employees in Topeka administer the commission guidelines, policies and grants. Technical assistance also is provided to artists, arts organizations and businesses involved with grant-writing, budgeting, raising funds, developing leadership and long-range planning.
Traveling exhibitions,folk art apprenticeships, community theaters and choirs and printmaking classes are a few examples of activities the commission finances.
commission The commission's budget comes from the Kansas Legislature, the National Endowment for the Arts and private grants.
The National Endowment's appropriations are based on criteria such as state population and rank in state spending or the percentage of the state budget each commission receives.
Last fiscal year its appropriation for Kansas was 0.0322 of 1 percent of the total state general fund budget. This percentage ranked 45th among the 50 states.
Last year Kansas artists and arts organizations requested about $3 million but the commission was able to grant only $1.2 million.
"That's $1.8 million of unhappiness we'd like to address," she said.
In March the commission completed a study of 12 communities' needs and found some common concerns.
the need for continuing arts education, effective communication among different art groups, more access to art and appropriate facilities were often mentioned as problems.
were often misconceived as p
To gather information, the commission held
community meetings and also interviewed
individuals in leadership positions.
Ligen said that at the meetings, people asked why there weren't more arts activities, and the individuals interviewed realized there wasn't enough money in the community.
bully enrolment. But she said that while money for the arts was important, it wasn't everything. She stressed the need for individual support for successful programs, both financially and in volunteer time.
She said a major issue was to use available funds properly.
"Kansas is in better shape than other states, far by, because we have effective state arts councils who act as a liaison between the KAC and community arts programs." Luallen said.
Gambling on funds
Kansas is taking a chance and investing more money into the arts. In state funding for the arts, Kansas ranks 42nd out of 56 states, territories and federal jurisdictions. Last year, it ranked 52nd.
Where the money comes from:
Where the money comes from.
In fiscal year 1989 July 1, 1988-June 30, 1989,the Kansas Art Commission budget comes from these sources.
How Kansas compares to other states:
**Kansas spends 43 cents per person on the arts. Hawaii leads the nation, spending $6.23 a person. Louisiana leads the least. Below is a graph showing how the states around Kansas rank per capita in spending on the arts.**
Dave Eames/KANSAN
Guild, galleries, center grow in fertile arts atmosphere
By Christine Winner Kansan staff writer
Like an impressionist paint-
ing, the Lawrence arts scene
has something new to offer
every time you look at it.
For example, Lawrence artists have an increasing amount of local space in which to show their work as galleryes expand and new gallerie
The Phoenix Art Glass and Gallery, 812 Massachusetts St., is now the Phoenix Gallery. Marian O'Dwyer, Lawrence woodworker and one of its owners, said the building was reorganized and expanded two months ago.
She described the gallery as regional, featuring Midwestern artists.
Glass, pottery and watercolor paintings are the main media for the 30 contributing artists, including one KU graduate student in fine arts.
ANTFRAMES, 921 Illinois St. — a combination framing shop, art gallery and sculpture garden — recently opened.
"Our mission is to push art, to get it into people's homes," said Gary Smith, who runs ARTFRAEMES with his partner, Fred Sack. Smith is also vice president of the Lawrence Art Guild.
He said the framing business would support the rest of the gallery and enable them to take chances on unknown artists.
He said that they planned to feature 150 pieces on the walls and in the garden, with an additional 200 paperworks in a rack.
He said that ARTFRAMES would offer many pieces between $65 and $150 and about 15 to 30 pieces less than $65.
"Our philosophy is that people can afford to buy small, framed original art." Smith said.
The gallery will also be a resource center for local artists. A
mailing list of every art organization in Kansas and surrounding states will be posted on a bulletin board. The list of current exhibits, he said.
Roy's Gallery also expanded when it moved to 1410 Kassid Drive in October. Manager Joseph Lopes, who acquired on original work by Lawrence artists.
The different works include watercolor and oil paintings, etchings, glass, ceramics and three-dimensional bronzes.
Artists in Masse, 803% Massachusetts St., opened in November. Owner Lynne Green has featured Lawrence rather than Chicago or Kansas City and to buy original art of posters and reproductions.
She said that Lawrence artists were more individualistic and not as provincial as those on the coast. "Kansas outward," she
On her last trip to New York, she
said that all the galleries carried the same style of work, abstract expressionism. Engling said that Lawrence artists develop their own vision.
Thomas Hart Benton is a good example of the dilemma that artists face when living in the Midwest, she said.
"Should you stay in Kansas City and be pooh-pooled by the critics or move to the coast?" she said. But she said that the Midwest was developing a regional reputation for art and that not everyone wanted to live on the coast.
But Lynne Green of Artists en Masse said that getting people to appreciate Lawrence art and getting them to buy it were two different things.
"It's my contention that art is a crucial need and not just a piece of fuff," she said. "It's part of people's spiritual and emotional development to have art, to be surrounded by it.
“Part of my purpose is to expose people to the fact that art is a necessity and not just a luxury. I have no illusions about art and money, but if I can get into a position where the great artists are working people into thinking that art is a necessity, then I'll think I've done a good thing.”
She said that the center was a city building but that the expansion would be funded with a combination of public and private money. Architects' proposals will date Mon. October; the study will begin in the summer.
summer.
The Lawrence Art Guild is also expanding.
Margaret Englard, president of the guild, said that about 30 members had joined her. She has also worked for the guild has existed for about 27 years, she said.
About 280 people are guild members, not including some Lawrence sculptors and photographers who have their own organizations. Some
art patrons are also members of the guild.
Engling said the guild tried to encourage people to buy art in paintings, sculpture, fibers and fabric in modern shows.
other neighborhoods.
Also growing is the Lawrence Arts Center, Ninth and Vermont streets.
In fact, director Ann Evans said the center had outgrown its space. The city will finance a new museum and the Lawrence Arts Center, which opened in 1974
"We have exhibits scheduled two years in advance and that's being very selective," she said.
The center also had to cut back on classes offered and she said more performance space was needed.
perform. Even the study would focus on the direction of the expansion, the use of space in the center, guidelines concerning expansion of a historic structure, parking and funding.
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