Kansas: Reimagined Spaces

The new façade of the reimagined Sunflower Theatre in Peabody, a grantee of the Reimagined Spaces program. Photo courtesy of the Sunflower Theatre

The Kansas Creative Arts Industries Commission (KCAIC) is encouraging creative community development through its innovative Reimagined Spaces grant program. The program combines the arts with the repurposing of underused spaces to make arts spaces and events accessible to a wider audience. Beyond public arts access, the grant promotes creative strategies for economic growth with an eye toward rural, underserved and inner-city communities.

Reimagined Spaces started in April 2020 and offers up to $10,000 to fund the activation of publicly accessible spaces through artistic expression and public programming. The grant requires a 1:1 match with only 25% of the match in cash, and that requirement is smaller for communities with fewer than 15,000 people. Additionally, the grant looks to reimagine traditional space for art by opening eligibility to government entities, federally recognized tribes, and economic/community/tourism nonprofits alongside arts nonprofits.

The initial rounds saw successes in a wide range of unique projects, from helping convert a bowling alley to a performing arts space to supporting the creation of an arts trail. A recent partnership with Kansas Main Street has helped increase the number of applications. The flexibility in eligible projects—from pop-up cinemas to new artist spaces—also allowed many programs to flourish during COVID-19, with organizations offering activities outdoors and in safer environments. For more information, contact KCAIC Chief Programs Officer Kate Van Steenhuyse.