334 N Mead | Wichita, KS 67202 | (316) 462-2787 | FAX (316) 337-9087
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 of Wichita and houses the Arts and Cultural Services Division.
HOURS OF OPERATION:
Mon - Thur, 9am-9pm | Fri, 9am-8pm | Final Friday, 9am-10am | Sat, 10am-4pm
CityArts offers a variety of rental spaces:
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Main gallery on the first floor
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Boardroom on the second floor
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Classrooms throughout the building from the first floor up to the third floor
For more information and pictures of the various spaces at CityArts, click here. Please contact Melissa Plymale at mplymale@wichita.gov or call her directly at
(316) 462-2787 x793 for your event!
CityArts provides low-cost classes to the general public in a wide variety of medium including glass blowing, ceramics, metal work, painting, computer, film, drawing and fiber art. CityArts offers classes to both adults and children of all ages. Free classes are offered to low income and at risk youth as well as special population groups such as HEARTSPRING, ARC and YESS! Throughout the year this totals over 4000 children benefiting from free programming and 6 special population organizations including 726 youth and 644 adults.
There are four class sessions offered throughout the year. You can find more information on classes by viewing the CityArts Class Schedule.
CityArts offers Adult and Youth scholarships. To download forms, click CityArts Adult Scholarship Form or CityArts Youth Scholarship Form. For more information, e-mail Tabitha Meyer at tmeyer@wichita.gov or by phone at (316) 462-2787 x792.
CityArts extends the art experience for school children with its Art Reach program for third graders and the School Sculpture program for fifth grade as well as free after school programming for elementary and middle school. During summer camps and classes are held from June through August with approximately 1400 kids participating in a variety of hands-on experiences. Around 2000 kids attend paid art classes during the rest of the year.
CityArts' building in Old Town was completed and staff moved in September of 2004, which has provided a new level of awareness for its programming and mission. Expansion of partnerships with more than 38 area adult organizations, 11 youth organizations, 6 colleges, 57 elementary schools, 13 middle schools, and 12 high schools have resulted from this move. Over 7,774 volunteer hours were turned in at CityArts during 2005.
CityArts continues to promote and to offer high visibility for local artists resulting in over $35,000 worth of original artwork being sold in the gallery from approximately 18 exhibits per year.
Mary Drouin
Mary has a master’s degree in physics and has recently started teaching pottery on the wheel for adults at CityArts.
Brian Duram
Brian is an experienced graphic designer and photographer who has won many awards for his work. He has been teaching teens and adults photography and computer graphics at CityArts since 2000. Brian regularly exhibits his work locally and nationally.
Kathy Fathi
Kathy is an award-winning silversmith who regularly shows and sells her original jewelry creations. She has a degree in English and a minor in Fine Art and has taught both youth and adults at Headstart and USD 259. Kathy’s work can be found on display in the CityArts gift gallery.
Kay Ferris
Kay has degrees in biology, zoology and nursing. At self-taught artist, Kay works primarily in graphite and colored pencil. She has been teaching drawing for youth and adults at CityArts since 1995. Kay’s work has been exhibited regionally and can be seen at Mead Street Gallery.
Chris Hartley
Chris has a BFA in graphic design, trying for his masters from Wichita State University. His love of art and mind of complexity have challenged him to make intricate pieces of chain jewelry from simple steel and copper wire. He enjoys making chain jewelry and showing off his talent to everyone. He hopes to extend his ability and see how far and where it will take him next.
Angie Hutchinson
Angie received her Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy. She studied pottery under Gary Ball at the Wichita Center for the Arts for seven years. She has studied sculpting under Babs Mellor for many years. She studied drawing and pastel application under Louise Starr for five years. She has studied under Buz Johnson at CityArts for over 5 years. She has attended numerous workshops on sculpting and has also attended a 2-day pottery symposium at WSU.
Carl (Buz) Johnson
Buz has a degree from Louisiana Tech University. He has taught teens and adult pottery at CityArts since 2000. In addition, Buz is the education coordinator for pottery/sculpture classes. His work is exhibited locally and nationally and can be found on display in the CityArts gift gallery.
Donna Phillips Joles
Donna has a Master’s degree in Fine Arts and has won numerous awards for her work in fiber. Not only is she a talented artist but also she has instructed students since 1991.
Jodi Lightner
Jodi received her BA from Sterling College and is currently working on her MFA at Wichita State. She works with the Media Department and youth programming at CityArts.
Kim Lister
Kim received his degree in Art Education from K.U. in 1971, and then worked 25 years in the graphic arts industry before starting up the silversmithing program at CityArts. As an Education Coordinator at CityArts, he has taught drawing & painting, kids summer activities, and silversmithing. A silversmith for 40 years now, Kim continues to produce one-of-a-kind works in silver and enamel.
Charlotte Martin
Charlotte has a degree in painting and has won numerous awards for her work. She regularly exhibits her work locally, nationally and recently internationally at the Biennale Internazionale dell’Art Contermporanea in Florence, Italy. Her work can be found in private and public collections locally and nationally. Charlotte is also the education coordinator for drawing/painting classes at CityArts and can be found on display in the CityArts gift gallery.
Babs Mellor
Babs sculpting background includes studying at the prestigious Scottsdale School of Art and the Loveland Academy of Art with Bruno Lucchesi. She has numerous sculptures that are in public and private collections through out the U.S. Babs has been teaching sculpture for over 31 years and regularly exhibits her work locally and nationally. Her work can be found on display in the CityArts gift gallery.
Jacqueline McElroy
Jaki is presently pursuing her degree at Wichita State University. She is a gifted portrait and caricature artist who has been teaching youth at CityArts, Wichita Center for the Arts, Arts Partners and USD 259. Her artwork has been published in several local and national magazines and she frequently displays her work in local exhibits and galleries.
Marty Pace
Marty has an art and business major from Marian College in Indianapolis. She has taught for 2 years at a children’s art studio in Dallas, Texas and has worked for CityArts since 2004. She works primarily in clay.
Andy Patton
Andy has developed a positive reputation in the Wichita Sculpting Community. He shows his work in various places in Wichita and in Colorado.
Carl Pilcher
Carl is a retired computer analyst who took up wood carving and quickly started winning awards and recognition for his work. He has been teaching wood carving/sculpting at CityArts since 2003.
Charles Rasico
Charles received his MBA from Newman University where he studied Managing Information Systems. He is the current Newman University Webmaster, and has worked in web design and information systems development since 2004. Charles teaches the web design classes at CityArts.
Tom Retz
Tom is a glass artist who has been teaching glass blowing at CityArts since 2002. Tom regularly exhibits and sells his work locally and nationally. His work can be found in the CityArts gift gallery.
Greta Simmons
Greta received her bachelors degree in Fine Arts from WSU. She works as a graphic artist in Wichita. She has a long history in the arts with a strong interest in painting and pottery. Her varied artistic background is strongly reflected in her pottery.
Ruthie Spriggs
Ruthie is the Youth Education Coordinator for CityArts and has been teaching art to youth and adults since she earned her degree in 1968. She regularly teaches glass arts to youth and adults at CityArts in addition to planning and coordinating youth programming. Ruthie is also responsible for CityArt’s outreach program and teaches once a week at the Timbers and Heartspring.
Nancy Squire
Nancy has an extensive background in fiber arts and degrees in design, painting and curriculum/instruction. She has taught all age groups and regularly offers workshops at regional colleges and universities in addition to teaching at CityArts.
Barbara Vogt
Barbara is an accomplished silversmithing artist who has been designing and creating original jewelry pieces for over 16 years. Barbara has many years experience in creating enamel pieces and has taught art since 1987.
Connie Volkman
Connie received her BSE in Art Education and Biology from Emporia State University in 1967. She received her MA in Art Education from Wichita State University in 1988 with an emphasis in gifted education. She taught in USD 259 teaching ceramics, silversmithing, enameling, sculpture, crafts, multi-media, graphic design, drawing, painting, computer graphics, Art and Humanities, stage-craft, weaving and basket making. These are a few of the many things she has worked with over her work history.
Roger Ward
Roger is a multi-talented artist who earned his degree from Emporia State University. He has been teaching glass blowing at CityArts since 2002. Roger has won awards for his work and continues to enter local and regional juried art shows.
Paul Wingo
Paul has a master’s degree in painting and has taught as an adjunct instructor at Butler County Community College and Wichita State University. In addition, Paul teaches at Wichita Center for the Arts and the Derby Recreation Commission. Paul works in several mediums including oils and watercolor and has had numerous exhibits of his work.
| Interested in teaching at CityArts? |
Contact Tabitha Meyer at tmeyer@wichita.gov (316-462-2787 x792) or Kim Lister at klister@wichita.gov (316-462-2787 x794). CityArts is always looking for new and innovative instructors interested in teaching an array of classes.