Kansas Abolishes Arts Commission

Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback signed an executive order Monday eliminating the grant-making Kansas Arts Commission, says The Kansas City Star.

The commission will be replaced by a new nonprofit organization under the order, which takes effect July 1 unless overturned by legislators. The move saves the state, which faces a nearly $500-million budget deficit, about $600,000 a year.

Gov. Brownback said he will seek $200,000 in state funds for the new arts foundation, which will rely primarily on private fund-raising.

Henry Schwaller, chairman of the Arts Commission, said he is talking with legislators about a campaign to reverse the order. He said the new foundation might not be eligible for federal aid and would have trouble securing sufficient private support to make it up.