Arts advocates plan effort to restore state funds

? An arts advocacy group hopes public support and a grassroots campaign will persuade lawmakers to restore state funding for the Kansas Arts Commission.

The board of the Kansas Citizens for the Arts met in Hutchinson Wednesday to discuss strategy for next year’s Legislature.

Gov. Sam Brownback vetoed the arts commission’s entire budget last May, making Kansas the only state in the nation to eliminate its arts funding.

Members of Kansas Citizens for the Arts said they will encourage small meetings across the state to ask people to craft a message for lawmakers about how the arts help their communities.

The Hutchinson News reports that the nonprofit group also is discussing changing its tax status so it can participate in political campaigns.