PAOLA — Members of the Miami County Arts Commission recently held their first artist appreciation reception at the Buffalo River Gallery in the historic Jackson Hotel in Paola. The Miami County Republic reported they were joined by representatives from the Kansas Arts Foundation. Foundation officials gave a $5,000 regional grant award to region 7, which includes Miami County. Art gallery owner Heidi Bacon discussed several new artists on display at the gallery and who will be featured at Somerset Ridge Winery’s Art in the Vines event in early June. Arts Commission President Billy Coulter also announced that the annual Music on the Square will begin the first Saturday in June in Paola. The Kansas Arts Foundation is a privately-funded creation of Governor Sam Brownback, who created the Foundation as political cover following the national furor after he abolished the publicly-funded Kansas Arts Commission. In the two years since he abolished the Commission, the state has lost an estimated $2 million in national arts funding. The Kansas Arts Foundation has raised $200,000 in two years.
Updated 5/22/13 @ 8:05 am
