Kansas Arts Commission

10/21/2026

MAP GRANT APPLICATIONS ARE OPEN!

Have an arts program in mind for your community? The Kansas Arts Commission’s Micro Arts Program (MAP) offers $1,000–$2,000 grants to Kansas organizations with annual cash income of $20,000 or less.

MAP can support cultural programs, exhibitions, arts education and other arts programming. A 1:1 match is required, and eligible in-kind contributions can count toward that match.

Applications are open through November 21 at 11:59 p.m. CST

Check eligibility, review the guidelines and apply: https://bit.ly/4zNqQ2J

10/19/2026

Artist INC Lawrence is accepting applications for an eight-week program focused on the practical side of an arts career, including setting goals, writing about your work, managing money and reaching audiences.

Sessions meet Tuesday evenings at the Lawrence Arts Center beginning January 19.

The application deadline has been extended to Wednesday, October 21 at 5 p.m.

Program details and application:

Artist INC applications are currently closed. Check back for upcoming programming or subscribe to our newsletter for updates.

10/19/2026

Call for artists | 2027 National Oil Painting Exhibition

Mark Arts in Wichita is accepting entries for its 2027 National Oil Painting Exhibition. Artists living and working in the United States may submit original, two-dimensional representational oil paintings created within the past two years. Work must be for sale and must not have been exhibited previously in Wichita.

The exhibition runs January 8 through March 13, 2027, with $3,000 in cash prizes. **Apply by November 14.**

View the full call and submit your work:

Mark Arts, in Wichita, Kansas invites artists to submit works for the Mark Arts National Oil Painting exhibition opening Friday, January 8, 2027.  Artists may submit up to four original two-dimensional, representational works of art in oil media. (See Media Limitations for more information.)  Artw...

10/15/2026

Here are six ways to explore the arts across Kansas this weekend.

🎨 Kansas City (KS) — Third Friday Art Walk
6th Street in Strawberry Hill,
Friday, October 16 | 5–9 p.m.

✂️ Marysville — Out-of-School MakerSpace
Marysville Public Library
Friday, October 16 | 10 a.m.–2 p.m.

🎶 McPherson — The Isaacs in Concert
McPherson Opera House
Saturday, October 17 | 7:30 p.m.

🖌️ El Dorado — Maker Space Saturdays
Kansas Oil Museum
Saturday, October 17 | 10 a.m.–4 p.m.

🌾 Pratt — _Terrain: Interpreting the Kansas Landscape
Vernon Filley Art Museum
Saturday, October 17 | 1–4 p.m.

🎨 Junction City — Artist Reception with Mandi Gaudian
Junction City Arts Council
Saturday, October 17 | 6–8 p.m.

Which stop are you adding to your weekend plans?

These selected highlights do not represent the full event schedules. Please visit each event for full schedules, registration and additional information.

10/15/2026

“A contract is where a working relationship starts.”

Arts Midwest’s new guide is a useful read for artists and organizations working together. It covers the details worth putting in writing before a project begins, from payment and deadlines to ownership of the work and what happens when an agreement ends.

Read the article:

A guide to building a strong legal and ethical foundation for your relationships (and contracts) with artists.

10/13/2026

10/12/2026

There’s still time to share your county’s story! 🎄

We’ve extended the deadline for Statehouse Holiday Ornament Collection submissions.

Want to send an ornament? Email [email protected] to request a shipping box, or ship your ornament directly to us at:

Kansas Arts Commission
Docking State Office Building
915 SW Harrison Street, Suite 250
Topeka, KS 66612

Help us represent Kansas counties on this year’s Statehouse holiday tree!

10/07/2026

October is National Arts and Humanities Month.

We’re celebrating the artists, writers, performers, and arts organizations whose work brings Kansas communities together. We also want to help them protect that work.

Kansas weather can be unpredictable as the seasons change, but storms aren’t the only disruption to plan for. Power outages, lost records, damaged equipment, and canceled events can affect a creative practice. Knowing what to protect and who to contact can make a difficult situation easier to navigate.

Find the preparedness resources in the comment below!

10/06/2026

What’s next for arts in Kansas? We want to hear from you.

The Kansas Arts Commission is developing its next strategic plan. Tell us what matters to you and your community, and help guide our priorities.

Take the survey and share your input ⬇️
https://bit.ly/4znKthL

10/05/2026