Topeka – The Kansas Arts Commission voted Wednesday to move forward with its own plan to support the arts in Kansas through private funding, rather than to continue its pursuit of a partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts.

“Commissioners remain united and focused on how to expand and support the arts in Kansas by maintaining and creating relationships with other arts agencies and developing an innovative funding plan,” KAC Chairman Linda Browning Weis said.

Browning Weis reported that commissioners decided to focus on a truly Kansas arts plan after the Commission learned of NEA’s notification that they would not accept KAC’s proposal to match federal funding with privately raised money.

As part of their funding plan, commissioners agreed to move forward on plans to promote and sell Kansas Arts Supporters license plates. Final details for the fundraising project will be presented at their December meeting.

Commissioners voted to explore partnering with the Kansas Humanities Council to expand the KAC’s Poet Laureate program.

They also agreed to continue the Governor’s Arts Awards program. Each year the KAC celebrates the best in Kansas arts by honoring Kansas artists, arts educators, arts advocates, arts communities, arts patrons and arts organizations who have made a positive impact on the arts in Kansas.