Big changes next year are expected to help the Bowlus Fine Arts Center connect to a wider audience. The center will add a new position to expand educational programs for students, with more events, a massive marketing campaign and a special event yet to be announced.
On Monday, Director Daniel Kays presented USD 257 board members with next years budget, his first since taking over the position in October.
The budget represents Kays efforts to market the Bowlus to a wider audience in southeast Kansas and increase attendance. That means bringing in more activities and events; the number of programs will expand from 14 to 25, which includes eight shows or concerts for the general public as well as community events like recitals and symphony performances, a special event and 12 educational programs for area students.
Expanding educational programs for students is another primary focus, Kays said. Last year was the first school year without Iola High Schools drama, music and arts classes at the Bowlus. Its important to find other ways to keep students connected to the center, Kays said.
I want to make sure were really reaching out to those students and continue to influence their lives, he said.
To that end, Kays decided not to fill a custodial position left vacant by retirement. Instead, the center will contract with a local cleaning company after shows. The change will allow the Bowlus to create a new position, the arts community outreach coordinator. Kays proposed that position be added to the responsibilities of the assistant technical director, John Higginbotham, who will switch from a part-time contract position to a full-time employee.
The community outreach coordinator will work with local teachers, initially at Iola but perhaps expanding to other districts, to teach a short session that coincides with Bowlus programs. For example, in the next year the Bowlus will present As You Like It, Shakespeares romantic comedy, for Iola High School students. The community outreach coordinator can teach an hour-long class to IHS students before the show so theyll have a better understanding and experience when they watch the performance, Kays said.
Kays also wants to continue some version of the Young Authors Program, which celebrated its final year last year. Kays wants to continue to bring in an author to speak to local students, though the students themselves will no longer produce their own books.
School board president Dan Willis praised Kays for his efforts in keeping students connected to the Bowlus. Its nice to see you trying to pull the students in. It was one of our concerns when we made the change.
We adapted but its still present in our minds, Kays said. We dont want (the Bowlus) to be a place where they just come for choir concerts or dance recitals.
Kays also suggested a possible resident artist program, using a Bowlus classroom vacated by IHS. Other communities have such a program, which invites an artist to live in the community for a period of time in exchange for teaching classes and sharing art.
THE BOWLUS raises money from various family trusts as well as ticket sales and facility rentals. Recently, Kays introduced sponsorships that allow local businesses to contribute at varying levels. Those sponsorships brought in $25,000 and will be used to boost marketing efforts.
Kays increased next years marketing and advertising budget to $45,000; it previously had never been more than $8,000, he said. But that includes $19,000 worth of in kind contributions from media partners, like agreements that will match advertising dollars. Expect to see and hear more newspaper and radio advertisements, Kays said, along with a foray into television. For example, one of the performers will give an interview on a KOAM television news program the day before his show.
An advertising brochure that previously was sent to less than 3,000 households has been expanded to 23,000 households in seven counties.
The sponsorship program is really helping us market the Bowlus and get our name out there for recognition, Kays said.
Kays also plans to increase box office ticket sales, from $30,000 last year to at least $50,000 in the next year.
