Statement from the NEA Regarding the Kansas Arts Commission

In a contentious meeting on Tuesday, Linda Browning Weis, the chairwoman of the defunded Kansas Arts Commission, announced she'd sent a letter to the National Endowment for the Arts. Browning Weis argued the organization is still qualified to receive matching federal funds. The NEA released this statement today.

By Laura Spencer

Kansas City, Mo. – In a contentious meeting on Tuesday, Linda Browning Weis, the chairwoman of the defunded Kansas Arts Commission, announced she'd sent a letter to the National Endowment for the Arts. Browning Weis argued the organization is still qualified to receive matching federal funds. Previously, the KAC received $1.2 million in matching grants, including approximately $800,000 from the NEA.

The NEA released this statement today.

"The Kansas Arts Commission responded this week to the NEA's request for information, and the agency is currently reviewing the information that was submitted. If Kansas has an officially designated state arts agency that meets the NEA eligibility requirements for state partnership funding, the NEA will work with that entity to move forward with the FY2011 grant of $709,900 that was previously recommended for Kansas. Otherwise, Kansas will forfeit its FY2011 recommended grant."