Hays, Kansas - March 2025
Founded in 1967, the Hays Arts Council (HAC) was the first community arts agency in Kansas. Its mission is to foster, promote, and support creative expression while enhancing community engagement with the arts. The HAC hosts the Smoky Hill Art Competition and Exhibition (Kansas’ oldest ongoing fine arts competition, now in its 55th year), the Five State Photography Competition and Exhibition (40 years strong), and four annual art walks.
A 2023 economic impact study by Fort Hays State University’s Docking Institute estimates 17,402 annual visitors to the HAC, generating $275,450 in economic impact. The report highlights how the HAC's activities contribute to individual well-being and community vibrancy beyond measurable dollars.
The HAC also works with students across 12 public and private schools in five towns and three counties, engaging approximately 3,500 students annually, with 2,900 receiving arts programming at least three times per year. Research underscores the arts' positive impact on youth, improving self-esteem, social skills, and behavioral outcomes.
The Need for Renovation
Despite the HAC’s deep community impact, its facilities are outdated and inefficient. The space includes:
· One functional (and barely accessible) restroom
· Cramped office space and small, disjointed storage areas
· A galley kitchen too small for effective use
· No dedicated meeting/conference space
· An unsafe layout requiring visitors to exit one building to enter another, even in inclement weather
· Outdated plumbing and electrical systems
As time passes, renovation costs only increase. That’s why the HAC launched the For the Heart of Hays $3 million campaign to:
· Connect the two buildings into one seamless, efficient, and safe space
· Expand educational and experiential spaces for interactive arts programming
· Modernize and enhance aesthetics while improving accessibility
· Expand the kitchen and add conference space for community use
· Upgrade restrooms and other spaces within the gallery to be fully ADA-compliant
· Elevate our facilities to match the quality of exhibitions, programs, and events HAC provides
A Brighter Future for Arts in Hays
The renovated space will allow the HAC to offer expanded youth and adult art classes, larger exhibits, performance art, and new community collaborations. The improvements will further establish the HAC as a cultural hub, attracting even more visitors to Downtown Hays. For more information or to support the campaign, visit www.haysartscouncil.org/heart-of-hays.