Topeka ? Arts advocates are planning to converge on the Kansas Statehouse as legislative committees review Gov. Sam Brownback’s proposal for arts funding.

Kansas Citizens for the Arts is sponsoring Thursday’s lobbying.

It comes the same day the Senate Ways and Means Committee and the House Education Budget Committee hold hearings on Brownback’s proposal to provide $200,000 to a new Kansas Creative Industries Commission.

The new commission would merge the Kansas Arts Commission and the state Film Services Commission. Many arts advocates consider it inadequate for supporting arts programs.

Brownback wants arts programs to rely more heavily on private money and less on state funds.

Last year, the governor vetoed the Arts Commission’s budget, making Kansas the first state to eliminate its arts funding.