The Arts and Cultural Services Division is an active center for all the arts and cultural aspects of the City of Wichita, providing educational information and opportunities for all citizens; and to act as the focal point for coordinating and promoting the visibility of all cultural arts in the community and to advise the City Council and City Manager on matters related to the aesthetic excellence of Wichita’s built environment and art and cultural matters.

Cultural Arts Funding

All organizations wishing to receive funding – including those organizations currently receiving funding from the City – must submit an application for funding. That application is reviewed by a sub-committee of The Arts Council, made up of a diverse group of people representing government, business, community, education, and arts. This 11-member team is called the Cultural Funding Committee. This committee then reviews applications for funding and makes funding recommendations to the City Council members, who ultimately determine the funding allocations.

The division staff administer all of the contracts once they are approved by the City Council. This includes distribution of funds, submission of quarterly reports by the organizations and followup reports provided by the Cultural Funding Committee members to track the impact of the funds provided to the grantees.

CityArts

CityArts is an activity center for the arts, providing education, information, and opportunities to the citizens, youth, and special populations of the community. It is funded by the City and houses the Arts and Cultural Services Division. The staff of the Arts and Cultural Division administer the exhibition gallery, classes, gift shop, building rentals, and other programming.

CityArts staff work to raise the level of awareness of the arts and arts education while creating an environment that nurtures artists, arts and cultural organizations. Low-cost classes available to both adults and children of all ages are offered to the general public in a wide variety of medium, including glass blowing, ceramics, metal work, painting, computer, film, drawing and fiber art.

Special Events

The Division of Arts and Culture is responsible for the coordination and development of the Citywide Community Events application process. This process pertains to any outdoor event on City-owned property with an expected attendance of 50 or more persons, organized for a particular and limited purpose and time. It also pertains to outdoor events on private property or which occur in the City of Wichita parks with an expected attendance of 250 or more people, organized for a particular and limited purpose of time. This will create a consistent review and approval process and help insure better customer service to our citizens.

The division continues to provide a staff member who acts as the rental agent for CityArts, the Farm and Art Market, the Old Town Plaza, Mid-America All-Indian Center and the Wichita Boathouse, when re-opened. The Boathouse is scheduled to reopen mid-2008.

Board Support

The Arts and Cultural Division’s staff provide support for The Arts Council, The Design Council, the Art Advisory Board, Mid-America All-Indian Center Board of Directors, and the Cultural Funding Committee who are provided space for meetings and events at CityArts because of their advisory connection to the City.

Back to Top