By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
The Hays Arts Council kicked off its $2.2 million renovation project with a celebration on Monday.
The arts council had set a $3 million fundraising goal. However, after working with its architects, the council determined the project could be completed for $2.2 million.
The $2 million already raised, along with the recent award of tax credits from the Kansas State Historical Preservation Office, allowed the nonprofit to begin work on the project, Brittney Squire, arts council board president, said.
SEE RELATED STORY: Hays Arts Council launches $3M capital campaign
The council owns the current gallery at 112 E. 11th St., the connected former Madd Matter storefront and the Hays Arts Center Annex at 1010 Main St.
The project seeks to connect all three spaces—8,300 square feet—to expand gallery space and make the annex more accessible as an educational space.
The former Madd Matter is about 3 feet in elevation different than the annex building. The renovation will include stairs and a ramp to connect the buildings.
The renovation will also include adding a kitchen and conference room.
Joe Jeter, trustee of the Robert E. and Patricia A. Schmidt Foundation, which contributed $1 million to the project, provided some background on the art center.
The Hays Arts Council is the oldest community arts organization in the state.
The main gallery building had multiple owners until 1923, when John Bird operated a publishing company from the building.
The building also housed the Hays Daily News, which was operated by Frank and Leota Motz. The Motzes bought Bird out in 1937 and continued to operate the newspaper from the building until 1951.
Cal Markwell operated the bookstore in the building before the arts council purchased it in 1977.
The annex was purchased in 2007.
"This is just about people and community," Jeter said. "This is really a great project. Congratulations to all of you and to our community. I can't wait for another year or so when we can get in here and really have some fun."
Squire thanked other major contributors: Kansas Department of Commerce, Leo J. Dreiling and Albina Dreiling Charitable Trust, Beach-Edwards Family Foundation, and Dane G. Hansen Foundation, and the 200 local organizations and individual donors who gave to the project.
PWC will be the project's contractor, and Baker McMillan of Manhattan, Kansas, will be the architect.
Construction is expected to take about 11 months, with the fully renovated space opening in early 2027.
The arts center gift shop and office will be closed for a month and will reopen on March 1 at the Hadley Center, 205 E. Seventh. Use the main entrance on Seventh. It will maintain its current hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.
The arts center annex will serve as exhibition space during the first phase of construction and will then move to the main gallery when the annex is renovated, Chandler Reich, executive director, said.
The annex will be open Thursday through Saturday during exhibit runs.
The arts council plans to continue to anchor art walks and will host the Smoky Hill Art Show and Five State Photography Contest as usual. Entries are now being accepted for the Smoky Hill Art competition.
Youth summer art classes will be conducted in collaboration with the Hays Public Library, and the arts council plans to pilot some adult classes, Reich said.
"We are excited to continue to do what we do best, offering art exhibitions and art programming for this community," Reich said. "During renovation, we want to be open and in full force as much as possible."
Squire said the Hays Arts Council is still accepting donations, which will be used for ongoing operations and to outfit the renovated space.
You can donate online on the council's webpage. You mail checks to 112 E. 11th St. Mail will be forwarded. You can also give through the Heartland Community Foundation.
Squire said the arts council plans to celebrate the renovation in 2027, coinciding with the council's 60th anniversary.