Salina public schools brace for arts funding challenges amid population decline

Diamond Rio to headline 50th Smoky Hill River Festival

Interactive "Community Tangle" installation to anchor festival visual arts

"4 Days in June" documentary chronicles river festival

Artyopolis celebrates 25 years of First Treasures program

Smoky Hill River Festival expands culinary offerings

Park upgrades improve festival accessibility and infrastructure

Salina public schools brace for arts funding challenges amid population decline

SALINA, Kan. - Shanna Rector, Salina Unified School District 305 (USD 305) deputy superintendent, informed the arts commission that USD 305 faces impending budget challenges due to declining enrollment and shifting poverty demographics. The district currently allocates a substantial budget for fine arts staffing to maintain its wide range of programming. However, as state and local funding formulas are impacted by population drops, the district may soon have to cut supplementary programs like field trips and specialized bussing to prioritize core staffing. Rector encouraged community partnerships, private funding and volunteer mentorships to help bridge the widening resource gap and keep students connected to the arts.

Diamond Rio to headline 50th Smoky Hill River Festival

SALINA, Kan. - The 50th annual Smoky Hill River Festival will feature country music group Diamond Rio as the Friday night headliner, event organizers announced. Saturday's entertainment will focus on a multi-generational celebration of the festival's golden anniversary, featuring the band Lost Wax, which will perform hits spanning the past five decades. The weekend's musical lineup also includes returning regional favorites like Papa Green Shoes and Joe's Pet Project.

Interactive "Community Tangle" installation to anchor festival visual arts

SALINA, Kan. - This year's Smoky Hill River Festival will feature 120 exhibiting artists and an array of new live demonstrations, including a blacksmith, a leather guild and returning glassblowers. A major highlight will be the "Community Tangle," a large-scale, interactive art installation on the riverbank coordinated by Prairie Works Design. Festival-goers are encouraged to help build the temporary installation out of natural materials and tree limbs collected by city parks staff, emphasizing communal play and creation over a permanent artistic outcome.

"4 Days in June" documentary chronicles river festival

SALINA, Kan. - A new documentary titled "4 Days in June," which chronicles the Smoky Hill River Festival and the Salina community, will make its local debut in July following five years of production. The film is set for public screenings at the Art Center Cinema from July 10 through July 15. The public screenings will feature Dolby surround sound and select talkback sessions with the producers at FILI Creative. FILI Creative plans to enter the documentary into the festival circuit before a wider digital release in the coming years.

Artyopolis celebrates 25 years of First Treasures program

SALINA, Kan. - The Smoky Hill River Festival's children's area, Artyopolis, will mark the 25th anniversary of its popular First Treasures program. The initiative allows children ages 4 to 13 to independently purchase donated artwork for $5 or less without adult influence. Festival organizers noted that artists continually restock their inventory throughout the day to ensure fair access for all participants. Artyopolis will also feature a new printmaking activity designed by a local artist, alongside returning favorites like face painting, the Ident-a-Kid station and Construction Junction.

Smoky Hill River Festival expands culinary offerings

SALINA, Kan. - The upcoming Smoky Hill River Festival will introduce three new food vendors to its diverse culinary lineup to balance traditional fair food with lighter options. Additions include a food truck serving bloomin' onions and pork fries, Rainbow Bowls offering lighter fare like yogurt and acai bowls, and a barbecue vendor returning under new ownership. The new additions will operate alongside festival staples such as kettle corn and other longtime festival food vendors.

Park upgrades improve festival accessibility and infrastructure

SALINA, Kan. - Recent infrastructure improvements by the city of Salina will provide a smoother, more accessible experience for Smoky Hill River Festival attendees this year. All previously gravel parking areas within the park have been paved, and the streets have been resurfaced to eliminate uneven terrain. Additionally, event organizers have partnered with local organizations like Independent Connection to provide mobility scooters for rent, ensuring better accessibility for attendees navigating the updated grounds.

Click here for local obituaries

Click here for local jail logs

Found a mistake? Have a news tip or feedback to share? Contact our newsroom using the button below:

Contact Us