Kansas Governor’s
Arts Awards Criteria
for Arts Communities
Community and
Artistic Leadership
For decades, there
has been a strong
leadership in the
Hays public and
private sectors –
leadership that has
and continues to
recognize the
importance and
impact of vibrant,
sustained arts
organizations,
programs, and
special events.
In the past 10
years, the City of
Hays has supported
the Hays Arts
Council with funding
of almost $100,000,
including a donation
of $39,000 to
support the HAC’s
renovation and
expansion. The City
contributed over
$100,000 to the
architectural
revitalization
efforts in the
Downtown Hays
Chestnut Street
District, a key
venue for Hays’ arts
and culture.
Similar funding is
also given to Hays’
“Wild West
Festival,” a
community festival
showcasing local &
professional
performing artists.
Ellis County also
makes significant
contributions to
many of these events
and, in addition to
an annual
contribution to the
Hays Arts Council,
also made a
contribution of
$10,000 towards the
Hays Arts Council
expansion efforts.
The magnificent
Beach/Schmidt
Performing Arts
Center on the Fort
Hays State
University campus
was made possible
through the major
private
contributions of
Ross & Marianna
Beach and Robert &
Patricia Schmidt, in
addition to smaller
contributions from
patrons-locally and
across the country.
FHSU allocates
hundreds of
thousands of dollars
each year to
maintain
Beach/Schmidt and
present nationally
and internationally
renowned performing
artists through the
“Encore Series,”
with sold-out
audiences filling
the 1,114 seat
performing arts
center. Financial
commitments from
FHSU and President
Hammond keep music,
art, and theater
department programs
strong and vibrant.
Chuck Comeau,
entrepreneur, real
estate developer, &
2009 Governor’s Arts
Award Winner, has
invested millions of
dollars into the
restoration and
management of over
20 properties in the
downtown area. His
company, Liberty
Group, incurs the
expense of
renovation, taxes,
utilities and
maintenance of all
the buildings. He
entered into these
efforts towards a
cultural district
because he “knew the
arts would be the
anchor for a
successful downtown
because they had
proven they could
flourish in the
worst of
conditions.”
The Hays Arts
Council, operating
out of its downtown
Hays Arts Center, is
supported through
funding from the
City, County, and
State in addition to
over $20,000 from
individual support
contributions from
over 300 individual
citizens and
businesses. Major
program support is
provided through
local foundation
funding as well as
through unique and
creative
partnerships with
Civic and Service
organizations,
school associations,
FHSU, and community
leaders.
Local school
district USD #489,
demonstrates a
powerful financial
commitment by
continuing – in the
face of overwhelming
budgetary
constraints – to
maintain strong
visual and
performing arts
programs.
Throughout the
district, even the
elementary schools
have certified art
and music educators
in each learning
center, providing
students, grades
K-12, a broad-based
arts education.
Recognition of
Contribution
Hays has often been
acknowledged and
recognized for
outstanding
achievement as a
vibrant and
culturally
progressive
community. Through
national and
regional articles
and awards, the
community’s arts and
culture have been
highlighted and
credited for
elevating Hays to a
level well beyond
that of other
communities. And,
recognition and
achievement for
cultural
contributions has
targeted not only
the city directly,
but individual
organizations,
entrepreneurs,
patrons, advocates,
and artists.
In a recent issue of
Journeys, a
trusted travel news
source with 1.5
million readers
nationwide, Hays was
deemed a “Prairie
Oasis” for its
museums, galleries,
boutiques, and
restaurants. The
June 2008 issue of
Cottage Living
cited the
ingenuity of
downtown business
owners and
developers to hire
local artists and
graphic design
students to design
murals and logos to
set the businesses
apart from chain
stores. The spring
2007 issue of
Renovation Style
details how local
entrepreneur Chuck
Comeau’s love of art
became the driving
force behind his
leaving the
traditional rural
commodities of oil,
agriculture, and
financial services.
In 2006, Romantic
Homes credits
Hays for embracing a
widening cadre of
artists and
craftspeople to
create the gourmet
eateries, upscale
retail shops, and
art and graphic
design studios that
line Hays’ Main
Street today.
An article in the
Winter 2008 Great
Lakes Airlines
magazine Peaks
and Plains
stated that “Hays
may not be the first
place one thinks of
when it comes to
fine art, but per
capita, more artists
call Hays home than
New York City.” In
that article,
Michael Jilg, a
Governor’s Arts
Award winner, states
that he believes
“the enthusiasm of
local businesses to
promote artists and
display their work
is extraordinary,
and contributes to
Hays’ unique arts
culture.” This
year The
Progressive Farmer
magazine named
Ellis County one of
the top two “Best
Places to Live in
Rural America”
citing among its
criteria, arts and
entertainment. Arts
and Cultural
contributions to
Hays’ quality of
life component help
propel the city to
be recognized as an
“All American City”
in the annual highly
competitive national
competition
In 1998, The Hays
Arts Council
received the Kansas
Governor’s Arts
Award for “Arts
Organization”
acknowledging its 30
years of continuing
service and place in
the state’s cultural
history. Previous
winners of the
Governor’s Arts
Award for
“Individual Artist”
include Michael Jilg,
Kathleen Kuchar,
Richard Starr, Dr.
John Cody, and Joel
Moss. Recipients
for “Patron” or
Advocate” Awards
include Ross and
Marianna Beach, Ann
and Norman Jeter,
and the Hadley
Foundation. And, as
previously noted,
Chuck Comeau was
named “Distinguished
Kansan” for ‘09.
Dedication and
Intensity of
Activity
The legacy of the
arts and culture in
Hays is no new
phenomenon. Fort
Hays State
University has been
providing a rich
cultural foundation
for well over 100
years. The Hays
Symphony Orchestra
was founded in 1914
and the Hays Arts
Council has been
serving the
community
continuously since
1966. In the
1960’s, Vivian
Meckel was a local
businessman and a
state legislator.
His passion and
vision led him to
author the
legislation that led
to our wonderful
Kansas Arts
Commission, so that
a state entity would
be in place to
support and nurture
local arts agencies
ready to take root.
Other components of
this flourishing
arts community
include: several
art galleries and
studios, the Western
Kansas String
Academy, Madrigal
Feaste, the
Cathedral Concert;
Heartland Community
Theater; 3 Dance
Studios; Wild West
Festival; 4 seasonal
Gallery Walks;
historic
reenactments; High
School and
University plays,
musicals, and
operas; German,
Chinese & Hispanic
festivals, public
sculptures; cultural
programs through the
Hays Public Library,
Hadley Foundation
Art Collection;
traditional, folk,
classic, and
contemporary
instrumental and
vocal music groups;
the Smoky Hill and
Five State
Photography annual
art competitions and
exhibitions; and so
much more.
Hays has no “formal”
or “umbrella”
organization or
cultural commission
responsible for the
cultural climate of
our community. No
one community arts
entity operates with
a sense of
obligation or
entitlement.
Rather, Hays is
driven by a fierce
sense of
collaboration,
mutual respect, and
community service in
the arts. And, that
works beautifully!
