Restoration of Matching Funds for KS Arts Not Expected Until 2014

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Although the state's new budget restores $700,000 in funding for the arts, it will be at least a year before federal and regional matching funds will return to Kansas. Mary Kennedy, executive director of the Mid-America Arts Alliance, says Kansas won't get any matching funds in fiscal 2013. She says the state also won't get any federal funds from the National Endowment for the Arts in the next fiscal year. She says it will take a year to go through the process needed to return the funds to the state. Last Friday, Governor Sam Brownback signed the budget that included $700,000 for the new Creative Arts Industries Commission. The Wichita Eagle reports  the new commission will eventually determine application and requirement guidelines for arts groups seeking money and matching funds.