The recent visit by the Kansas Department of Commerce and 60th District Representative Mark Schreiber to the Emporia Arts Council drew attention to projects funded by state tax credits, but Arts Council Director Dawn Young says the overall tax credit program is important for a more foundational reason.
Young says the Arts Council applied for Kansas Community Tax Credits in 2022, gaining about $300,000 in the process. It then renovated the Davis Theatre, rebuilt a pottery classroom with new equipment and added technology classes. It also developed a partnership with Hetlinger Developmental Services to offer art classes for Hetlinger clients. All those new features are now available except for the technology classes, which begin this summer.
The Arts Council recently ended its 2024-25 Performing Arts Series. Young was pleased with the schedule and the overall turnout for the different performances, saying planning is underway to finalize the 2025-26 lineup over the next two months.
The Arts Council is now applying for tax credits to handle a lengthy list of deferred maintenance projects at the Emporia Granada Theatre. The Arts Council is officially seeking an operations director for the Granada, and it’s looking to schedule what Young calls an Entertainment Series for the theater.
The visit by the Department of Commerce was part of the first-ever Community Impact Tour across Kansas.
