Purpose and Mission
Through its cultural funding program, the City of Wichita is working to encourage the development of existing and emerging nonprofit arts and cultural service organizations as well as promote and encourage excellence and growth of arts in Wichita to elevate the City’s cultural tourism and quality of life.
Nonprofit arts and cultural services organizations in Wichita are annually invited to apply for funds set aside by the Wichita City Council to assist with their operations. They must demonstrate and document excellence in quality artistic programs, professional artistic and administrative staffing, financial stability and their contribution to the community at large.
To be eligible for cultural funding, arts and cultural organizations must have 501(C)(3) nonprofit status and be located within the city limits. For Fiscal Year 2011, the City awarded 21 organizations operational support grants that totaled nearly $3.1 million. The funds are to be used for operations only.
Cultural Funding Committee
An 11-member Cultural Funding Committee – seven of whom are appointed by the Wichita City Council and four by The Arts Council – reviews all applications submitted by 501(C)(3) nonprofit organizations located within the city limits and makes funding recommendations to the Wichita City Council.
Cultural Funding Committee Members
Jeremy Alessi
Gwynne Birzer
Ken Ciboski
Chris D'Acosta
Mary Eves
Sharon Mallory
Jane McHugh
Joe Miller
Dr. Steve Peters * Committee Chair
Donnah Taylor
Maaskelah Thomas
Support Staff
John D’Angelo
Bernadette Bradshaw
Sharon Fearey
Conflict of Interest Policy
History of the Cultural Funding Program
In 2004, the Arts Council created an Arts Task Force to research funding support for the arts in Wichita. In response to that study, in May of 2006, the City Council voted to provide funding for arts and culture at a level approximating 1 mill of the City’s general, ad valorem tax levy and directed the Arts Council to develop an application form and process to award the funds.
Subsequently, the Arts Council recommended an 11-member Cultural Funding Committee. This committee would work with the Division of Arts & Cultural Services staff to develop criteria and guidelines, an application form and an annual grants review and reporting process.
During the first seven years of the program, more than $21 million dollars has been awarded to arts organizations. In 2008, the City Council approved the continuation of the commitment for five more years.