Arts: Whither thou goest?

Originally published June 23, 2011

The news is bad all over.  Recently it was announced from "Fitzwalkerstan," aka Wisconsin, that the State Arts Board was going to be rolled over into the state Tourism Board.  What effect that will have on the state's arts organizations or facilities (such as the oftentimes precarious situation at Madison's Overture Center for the Arts) is still unknown.  What is known is that Governor Sam Brownback of Kansas has unilaterally eliminated all state funding for the arts.  Not only does this eliminate the miniscule amount (some $689,000 of a state budget of over thirteen billion dollars) but it also tosses away any possibility of matching funds from the NEA and other sources.

Meanwhile, in neighboring Kansas City (Missouri, that is) they are getting ready to build this.

It is called the Kauffman Center for the Arts and once it opens in September, will serve as a home for the Kansas City Symphony, the Lyric Opera of Kansas City, and the Lyric Ballet, all of which currently perform at the Lyric Theater, located some eight blocks away (note to self and others:  this new facility is still located downtown.

The cost?  415 million--that's right, million--dollars.  The cost to taxpayers?  Not one red cent.  All of the funds for this magnificent structure, which will contain two major performance facilities.  Beneath the center is a 1000-space parking garage.  The entire complex covers thirteen acres.  There appear to be no shortcuts here, with one of the spaces devoted as a concert hall and the other shared by the Opera and Ballet, both of which have shorter seasons and yet are supported in large part by musicians by the symphony.  They've literally pulled out "all the stops," including a new "concert organ" built by the venerable Casavant Freres Company of Montreal.  The instrument will be heard in its glory later this symphony season in Camille Saint-Saens Symphony No. 3, "Organ."

Almost makes a guy want to move (what am I talking about...almost?)  Just goes to show you that one neighbor can do everything so right and right next door they get it all so wrong.  It's just another reason to serious take pity on the people of Kansas.