Art organizations across Kansas, particularly in rural areas, say the loss of federal and state funding is causing them to make severe cutbacks and endangers their future.

Arts advocates say last week’s decision by the National Endowment for the Arts to deny Kansas federal funds was expected but still stings. The NEA decision came after Gov. Sam Brownback laid off the Kansas Arts Commission staff and vetoed its funding. The state and NEA donated a total of about $150,000 a year to the arts commission.

The cuts have forced the Bourbon County Arts Council to operate out the executive director’s home. And the Western Plains Arts Association
in Colby, which serves nine counties, will have to cut cultural programming and raise ticket prices.