Last week Gov. Sam Brownback signed into a law a measure creating a new Creative Arts Industry Commission. This week lawmakers struggling to complete the fiscal 2013 budget agreed to fund the new commission with an appropriation of $700,000.
If the governor accepts this figure, Kansas will again receive federal matching dollars for the arts — and the Bowlus Fine Arts Center will again benefit with additional support for many of its programs and events that qualify for federal support.
The new commission merges the former Arts Commission with the Film Services Commission, which existed to promote and support the making of motion pictures in Kansas. Gov. Brownback believes the merger will lead to the creation of new arts and film-related jobs in Kansas and, in a manner of speaking, pay its own way.
His hope is well-founded. The Kansas Arts Commission was more than paying its own way. It was bringing more than $1 million a year into Kansas from Washington. The federal subsidies also encouraged grants from dozens of private trusts and foundations as well as support from cities and counties. The arts are a fair-sized business in every state.
More than money is involved. To use street-speak, the arts are a quality of life thing. Life is better in Allen County because of the Mary Martin Art Gallery, the Sleeper event series, the Cultural Arts Events programs, the Christian music events, the Iola Community Theatre presentations and so on through the annual catalog of attractions held at the Bowlus Fine Arts Center.
Each of those events has an economic impact on Iola’s economy, however big or small. But that’s not what counts most. Each makes life for those who take advantage of them a bit richer and fuller.
Remember that and drink deep when the cup is passed — and do your bit to keep it full by becoming a Friend of the Bowlus.
— Emerson Lynn, jr.
