By Lucky Kidd
LINDSBORG, Kan. — The City of Lindsborg is making a change in plans for use of an EPIC grant it was awarded earlier this year through the Kansas Creative Arts Industries Council.
The original plan for the project, one of four funded across Kansas as a pilot for this program, was to incorporate art aspects into a new recreation facility. However, City Administrator Kristi Norcutt said after attending various training sessions and other discussions, it was determined this would not be feasible due to the timeliness for that project and the grant.
So, they now have a new plan, known as Art on the Prairie, which would be run through the Birger Sandzén Memorial Gallery with Bethany College also involved. Through it, a variety of artists would be brought in to conduct week-long workshops that will run Sunday through Thursday.
With Bethany College being involved in this project, it will mix class time and community time. The Kansas Department of Commerce has increased the amount of funding available for the pilot year to $45,000 with a 25 percent local match. The city would provide half of that match, with the other half coming from the gallery and college.
Sandzén Gallery Director Ron Michael said they have already begun the process of contacting artists to be part of the project, and there is a lot of interest in this. Michael told the Lindsborg City Council Monday Art on the Prairie could attract a wide range of ages of people to the community, and with it a lot of exposure.
A goal of the program would be to not only expose participants to the arts, but also the prairie landscape that surrounds Lindsborg. Michael said if everything comes together, the first two programs would take place in early June.
