To the editor:

Government officials and the public need to more closely examine the repercussions of eliminating the Kansas Arts Commission and the effect it will have on our state. Many programs around the state utilize these funds in ways that provide skills needed for growth of their communities through arts-based means.

For instance, Van Go Inc. takes in at-risk youth, identified by school counselors, and teaches them both job and life skills. The students produce works of art, which are sold to the public, and earn wages for their efforts. Through this, many of these teens leave the program feeling the sense of self-worth and empowerment they may otherwise lack and now have the drive and determination to gain future employment and even attend college. In effect, at-risk teens are transformed from statistics to success stories. I have seen some of the program’s teens working in local retailers and, I will tell you, many have better customer service skills and are more outgoing than many of their more-privileged peers.

The effects of these efforts from arts-based organizations such as Van Go should appeal to GOP officials and their supporters and not be seen as “fat” to be trimmed. With government support or not, I ask that members of the community increase their support of the arts and arts-based organizations.