The Arts Council, Wichita, KS Videos

The Burton Pell Achievement in Music Award was created in memory of Mr. Pell, a long time member and past president of the Arts Council, to recognize an outstanding individual in music. Our 2022 Burton Pell honoree was Andréa Banke, who formerly served as Principal Oboist for the Wichita Symphony Orchestra and Oboe Professor at Wichita State University College of Fine Arts, where she now teaches theory and aural skills and leads the Master of Arts in Arts Leadership and Management degree program. Other recent Burton Pell Award honorees include Catherine Consiglio (2021), Craig Owens (2019), Dr. Susan Mayo (2018), Dr. Jay Decker (2017) and Lynne Davis (2016). Submit your nominations in for the 2023 Burton Pell Achievement in Music Award! Visit https://wichitaarts.com/2023-art-awards-nominations/ to view all the categories and submit nominations online TODAY! Nominations must be received by 5pm on Tuesday, September 5.

The Youth Recognition Award is given to a high school and/or middle school student who has shown outstanding achievement and development in the arts. Last year, Lillian Meier, a junior at Campus High School, was honored. Other recent Youth Recognition Award honorees include Mara Howes (2021), Lauren Zoller (2019), Edward Sturm (2018), Zoe Corrigan (2017) and Evan Schelton (2016). Submit your nominations in for the 2023 Youth Recognition Award! Visit https://wichitaarts.com/2023-art-awards-nominations/ to view all the categories and submit nominations online TODAY! Nominations must be received by 5pm on Tuesday, September 5.

The Individual Artist Award is given to an artist actively working in such categories as Choreography, Music Composition, Film/Video, Theatre, Interdisciplinary/ Performance Art, Two-Dimensional Visual Art and/or Three-Dimensional Visual Art, who has shown outstanding achievement. Our 2022 honoree was Kamela Eaton, who had an exceptional solo show, "I Dream of Jeannie," last month at Mulberry Art Gallery. Other recent Individual Artist awardees include Chris Brunner (2021), Patrick Duegaw (2019), Jim Gross (2018), Rob SImon (2017) and Thomas Douglas (2016). Submit your nominations in for the 2023 Individual Artist Award! Visit https://wichitaarts.com/2023-art-awards-nominations/ to view all the categories and submit nominations online TODAY! Nominations must be received by 5pm on Tuesday, September 5.

The Arts Advocate Award is given to an individual or group dedicated to furthering the cause of an art form or the arts in general through promotional, volunteer, administrative, legislative or professional efforts. In 2022, Janice Thacker was honored for her many efforts to bring art to the African American community in Wichita, most notably through ATTYH-Art That Touches Your Heart. Other recent Arts Advocate Award honorees include Sarah Kephart (2021), Lela Meadow-Conner (2019), Ruth Ann and Scott Martin (2018), Colby Sandlian (2017) and Armando Minjarez (2016). Submit your nominations in for the 2023 Arts Advocacy Award! Visit https://wichitaarts.com/2023-art-awards-nominations/ to view all the categories and submit nominations online TODAY! Nominations must be received by 5pm on Tuesday, September 5.

The Arts Educator Award is given to an individual who has devoted a career to teaching the arts in an educational environment. Last year, Doug Billings was honored for his exceptional tutelage in painting and printmaking at Friends University Fine Arts and Mark Arts. Other recent Arts Educator Award honorees include Babs Mellor (2021), Jim Hellman (2019), Brenda Lichman (2018), Mary Sue Foster (2017) and Nick Johnson (2016). Submit your nominations in for the 2023 Arts Educator Award! Visit https://wichitaarts.com/2023-art-awards-nominations/ to view all the categories and submit nominations online TODAY! Nominations must be received by 5pm on Tuesday, September 5.

The Special Project Award is given to an individual or group that has provided support for a single event or project. Last year, Mark Arts was honored for Stickwork by Patrick Dougherty (group) and Anri was honored for ICT Fashion Tour (individual). Other recent Special Project Award honorees include Emily Christensen for the Feminist Foremothers podcast (2021), Horizontes Project (Group) and Sara Harmon (Individual) (2019), Knob Festival of New Music (2018), The Miro Project at the Ulrich Museum (2017) and the City of Wichita. Redbud Bike Trail (2016). Submit your nominations in for the 2023 Special Project Art Award! Visit https://wichitaarts.com/2023-art-awards-nominations/ to view all the categories and submit nominations online. Nominations must be received by 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 5.

The Special Project Award is given to an individual or group that has provided support for a single event or project. Last year, Mark Arts was honored for Stickwork by Patrick Dougherty (group) and Anri was honored for ICT Fashion Tour (individual). Other recent Special Project Award honorees include Emily Christensen for the Feminist Foremothers podcast (2021), Horizontes Project (Group) and Sara Harmon (Individual) (2019), Knob Festival of New Music (2018), The Miro Project at the Ulrich Museum (2017) and the City of Wichita. Redbud Bike Trail (2016). Submit your nominations in for the 2023 Special Project Art Award! Visit https://wichitaarts.com/2023-art-awards-nominations/ to view all the categories and submit nominations online. Nominations must be received by 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 5.

The Arts Organization Award is given to a public, not-for-profit organization that presents or provides arts opportunities to the Wichita community and region. Last year's winner, Harvester Arts, has exemplified that definition by providing an ongoing and expansive collection of ways for Wichitans to experience and often participate in the arts in our community. Other recent Arts Organization Award honorees include Music Theatre for Young People (2021), A.R.I.S.E. (2019), North End Urban Arts Festival (2018), Northeast Area Strings Academy of Wichita (NASAW) (2017) and Heart of America Men's Chorus (2016). Submit your nominations in for the 2023 Arts Organization Award! Visit https://wichitaarts.com/2023-art-awards-nominations/ to view all the categories and submit nominations online. Nominations must be received by 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 5.

The Gordon W. Evans Art Leadership Award is given to a patron demonstrating outstanding leadership and special support for the arts. Last year, Dr. Patricia McDonnell was honored for her leadership at the Wichita Art Museum and the Ulrich Museum of Art, as well as her profound contribution to the arts in our community. Other recent Gordon W. Evans Art Leadership Award honorees include J. Eric Engstrom (2021), Connie Bonfy (2019), Joe Miller (2018), Dr. Dennis & Ann Ross (2017) and Sondra Langel (2016). Submit your Gordon W. Evans nominations in for the 2023 Art Awards! Visit https://wichitaarts.com/2023-art-awards-nominations/ to view all the categories and submit nominations online. Nominations must be received by 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 5.

We're so excited to welcome you to our April ARTS MIXR on Thursday, April 20, hosted at Art House 310! ARTS MIXRs are free and very informal gatherings presented by the City of Wichita- Division of Arts and Cultural Services with the Arts Council, open to artists and art lovers of all ages and abilities who are interested in learning more about the arts in Wichita. Our goal is to connect creatives throughout our community and spark conversations and collaboration. Each of our monthly ARTS MIXRs takes place at different arts and cultural facilities in our community, so attendees get to experience some of Wichita's rich diversity firsthand. We hope you'll join us this Thursday from 6-8 p.m. at Art House 310. Artwork by Jae Lear and Patrick Heath of Lear Heath Studio will be on display.

📷: Americans for the Arts The arts are here to inject a little color into the darkening days of winter! We've collaborated with artist Shannon Downey (@badasscrossstitch) to bring you a hopeful craft project for the season. Download the free pattern PDF for this Arts Create Hope embroidery project designed by Shannon and make it for yourself or someone you love: https://www.americansforthearts.org/by-topic/disaster-preparedness/artscreatehope Tag us and share your finished art with #ArtsCreateHope—we'd love to see your handiwork! Not a stitcher? A new year is a great time to learn new skills! Instead of resolving to deprive yourself of something, we recommend committing to creativity to kick off 2022. Here's to making the world a more hopeful place through the arts! #ArtsCreateHope #NewYearsResolutions #Embroidery #Craftivism #CraftingIdeas

2021 Art Awards Gordon W. Evans Award Honoree, J. Eric Engstrom
Learn more about our 2021 Art Awards Gordon W. Evans Award honoree, J. Eric Engstrom. Over the past forty years, Eric Engstrom has given freely of his time, talents and treasure, making Wichita a more inviting place to work, live and visit. Alongside his legal career, he has served as chair or president of Wichita Art Museum, the Wichita Orpheum Theatre, Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum and served on the boards of Mid-America All-Indian Museum, Tallgrass Film Association, Ulrich Museum of Art, Wichita State University College of Fine Arts Advisory Council among many other efforts. Eric is a gentleman, a scholar, a world traveler, a kind and generous philanthropist.

2021 Art Awards Chris Cherches Honoree - 9th St I135 to Hillside Project | Ellamonique Baccus
Learn about our 2021 Art Awards Chris Cherches Award honoree, the 9th Street – I135 to Hillside Project. Ellamonique Baccus was the Art Consultant on the project, which was helmed by Baughman Co. PA, Design; Cornejo & Sons LLC, General Contractor; Shawn Mellies and Greg Baalman, City of Wichita- Government. This three year, $3.5 million 9th Street project not only encompassed paving, drainage and pedestrian upgrades, but aesthetic elements including murals, mosaics and sidewalk graphics intended to reflect the community’s values. Artists included Ellamonique Baccus, Tina Murano and Janice Burdine Thacker. More than 100 residents participated by placing tiles and helping to paint the mural, "Cultivating the Seeds of Our Future."

2021 Art Awards Individual Artist Honoree Chris Brunner
Meet our 2021 Art Awards Individual Artist honoree, Chris Brunner. Chris Brunner has been an active artist for more than 40 years. His work transcends traditional boundaries: Landscape art. Modern sculpture. Environmental sculpture. Brunner’s sculptures can be found in private and corporate collections in Wichita and beyond. And the artist himself is often found supporting other local artists at museums and galleries.

2021 Art Awards | Arts Organization Award Music Theatre for Young People
Meet our 2021 Art Awards Arts Organization Award honoree: Music Theatre for Young People! MTYP’s motto is “performing in the present, educating for the future.” Since 1984, MTYP has produced engaging and entertaining shows with casts made up entirely of youth from Wichita and surrounding communities, ages 7-18. Many MTYP cast members go on to perform in high school and college and some continue performing professionally. All take with them new skills and greater confidence.