TOPEKA–The Kansas Creative Arts Industries Commission (KCAIC) has announced that it has awarded grants to 11 organizations. The grant awards, which total $57,500, were awarded through the Strategic Investment and Arts Integration programs. KCAIC programs are designed to promote partnerships, enhance community and economic development, encourage risk and innovation, maximize statewide impact and highlight the role the arts play in all areas of community life. Grantees are selected by the KCAIC through an application and review process.
The grant recipients include:
Community Access Television of Salina, Arts Integration Program: Integrated Arts Education – Salina $5,000
Community Access Television of Salina, under producer Dr. Phil Black, will develop a video documentation program entitled “Stories from the Heartland: Kansans in WWII”. In cooperation with Teen Town Inc., local students will be employed to document video oral histories of living Kansas World War II veterans. In addition to video production, students will learn historical research techniques at the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library and receive training in museum exhibition creation from The Smokey Hills Museum.
Salina Arts & Humanities, Arts Integration Program: Creative Collaboration, Salina, $5,000
Salina Arts & Humanities, in collaboration with Lucas artist Erika Nelson, will increase depth for the “Arty” Mobile Arts Van Program by addressing accessibility goals of the Salina’s cultural plan, and opening doors to children (grades 3-5) and social service organizations in indigent and remote neighborhoods by continued evolution of the summer arts delivery system. Participants will be bused to cultural organizations where they will receive a tour and complete a series of activities. Each cultural organization involved will create curriculum with Erika Nelson. The visits will serve as an introduction to the particular arts discipline of the agency and to the organization itself and the opportunities it presents, as well as available scholarship programs. One of the expected outcomes of the project is to see participants matriculate into the regular year-long activities of the organization
The Strategic Investment Program (SIP) recognizes the important role individual artists and creative organizations play in building and sustaining cultural and economic vibrancy in Kansas. By funding a variety of professional and organizational development opportunities that impact cultural programming, these grants support initiatives that use the arts to enhance community vitality, revitalize neighborhoods, generate local business, create and preserve job opportunities and impact tourism.
The Arts Integration Program (AIP) grants support the role the arts play in all levels of education, community service and workforce development. This program provides funding for educational institutions, arts organizations and community service non-profits to use the arts to increase student success, foster creative thinking, develop critical job skills and enhance community development.