Funding cuts may affect university budget

by Jenna Stanbrough

After igniting a fire of criticism and political dispute and bringing Kansas national attention by eliminating state art funding, Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback has restored $200,000 to the Kansas Arts Commission.

State government officials continue to debate the issue.

The governor previously eliminated the entire $689,000 Kansas Arts Commission budget, with the desire of using private money, rather than tax-payer money, to fund the arts. This made Kansas the first state to end its funding for the arts agency. These cuts ultimately cost the state $1.3 billion in funds from the National Endowment of the Arts and a regional arts alliance.

“I think it’s a crime,” Inge Balch, professor of art at Baker University, said, “especially to Kansas, that has quite a few artists that live by being artists.”

On Jan. 12, Brownback proposed $200,000 be provided to reinstate funding for the arts program. However, this proposal came with conditions.

The Kansas Arts Commission and Kansas Film Commission will be combined to create a new organization, the Kansas Creative Industries Commission, which will be required to focus on creating arts-related jobs.

The $200,000 will go toward this new commission and will be available only for arts programs that create economic development.

Brownback’s original budget cuts caused dispute among state and national arts programs, and although some funding has been returned, the decision will continue to have a ripple effect.

“If they cut funding for arts, for elementary schools … we’re getting fewer and fewer students having an interest or even knowing about being a part of (art) going through all grade levels,” Matthew Potterton, assistant professor of music at BU, said. “So, you have much fewer people even having an understanding or appreciation of the arts, because they’re getting cut in the earlier programs.”

Because Baker University is a private institution, the fine arts program at the university is funded through private sectors, but the state budget fluctuations could still affect its funding.

“I think it is always a concern when you see that we’re making cuts in the arts anywhere,” University President Pat Long said. “I know the idea is that the private sectors will engage in a more robust way, and if the private sector has to do that for public institutions as well as private that may be a concern for us.”

The administration, faculty and staff is adamant on keeping the fine arts program alive at Baker University because of the benefits it can have for students during and after their time at Baker.

“Creativity, critical thinking and problem solving are among the top applied skills sought by employers,” Balch said. “Baker University is lucky to have a small but strong art department. The faculty is dedicated to teach at their highest level and determined to stay alive and be noticed. We will continue to practically live here to make sure our students get the guidance they need.”

Despite Brownback’s decisions concerning the state arts agency, the future of fine arts at Baker may be dependent on the students, faculty, staff and administration who continue to support and allow the program to thrive.

“Would we like to support our programs all the more? Yes,” Long said. “Do we have to live within the budget here? Yes.”