GREAT BEND, Kan. – The mission of the Barton Arts Council is to “strengthen, sustain, and enhance existing arts resources of every artistic discipline, both traditional and non-traditional, established and emerging, in response to the cultural needs of the people of Barton County, Kansas. The general purpose of the corporation is to operate solely and exclusively as a charitable and educational organization. In keeping with that mission, the Barton Arts Council made a grant to the Barton Arts Movement grassroots campaign.
The Barton Arts Movement (BAM) is a grassroots initiative that hopes to inspire community art and design. BAM believes that art nourishes community pride, brings voice to cultural movements, and foster interpersonal relationships. This urban art project includes a collective website, QR codes for background and educational information, social media engagement, and developing murals in high-traffic areas in Claflin, Ellinwood, Great Bend, and Hoisington. Barton County already has a rich selection of community murals, most are nearly 20-years old, BAM hopes to add to that collection. BAM representative Andrea Bauer gave a presentation to the Barton Arts Council which included the mission of BAM as well as a request for funding of initial startup costs. At the conclusion of the presentation, the Barton Arts Council discussed the merits of the request and how it aligned with the mission of the council, the request for the $2,500 grant was unanimously approved.
The Barton Arts Council is partially supported as a recipient of the Bill McKown Memorial Endowment Fund and the Barton County Arts Endowment Fund which are facilitated through the Golden Belt Community Foundation. Current board members for the Barton Arts council are Robert Feldt, Karen Kline-Martin, Scott Beahm, Christina Lamoureaux, Mark Webster, David Barnes and Chet Cale.
Golden Belt Community Foundation
At over $27.9 million in total assets and more than 180 funds under management, the Golden Belt Community Foundation has been connecting people who care to causes that matter since 1996. Golden Belt Community Foundation exists to provide non-profit organizations in central Kansas with a permanent source of support and to serve as a vehicle for charitable giving for donors. GBCF serves the counties of Barton, Pawnee, Rush, and Stafford. For more information about Golden Belt Community Foundation, call (620) 792-3000 or visit their website at www.goldenbeltcf.org.