City responds to open records request regarding missing public art

Salina launches digital map of public art collection

Fire Station No. 4 prepares for public art installation

Oakdale Park's historic Spanish War and G.A.R. Memorial Gate slated for major restoration

BOOM! Salina Street Art & Mural Festival canceled amid sign code litigation

Volunteers needed for major Salina fall festivals

City responds to open records request regarding missing public art

SALINA, Kan. — Salina Arts and Humanities is reviewing its collections management following an open records request that revealed dozens of missing artworks. According to a Salina311 report, city records identify 34 works previously acquired through the Smoky Hill River Festival Purchase Award program as explicitly listed as missing, with some unaccounted for prior to 2003. The recorded acquisition prices of those missing works total $9,112. Arts Services Coordinator Crystal Hammerschmidt and city staff are now working to overhaul the department's tracking system to better preserve the decades-old collection and ensure greater accountability to the public.

Salina launches digital map of public art collection

SALINA, Kan. — Salina residents and tourists can now track down the city's outdoor sculptures and murals through the online Public Art Archive. Arts and Humanities staff have spent recent months uploading the past three years of SculptureTour Salina installations and BOOM! Salina murals to the national database, allowing users to locate and view public art via a digital map. The tool aims to serve as a one-stop digital resource for public art in Salina, though staff noted that photographing and cataloging older, private and kinetic pieces will require ongoing community volunteer assistance.

Fire Station No. 4 prepares for public art installation

SALINA, Kan. — Following the recent dedication and Sept. 11 memorial ceremony at Salina's newly constructed Fire Station No. 4, a major public art piece is scheduled for installation. The custom-fabricated artwork is complete and awaiting a delivery and installation team in the coming days. Additionally, the community is contributing to the station's aesthetic through a YMCA camp clay tile-carving session, which will be incorporated into the final public art display at the taxpayer-funded facility.

Oakdale Park's historic Spanish War and G.A.R. Memorial Gate slated for major restoration

SALINA, Kan. — Salina is developing a major call for artists to restore the historic Spanish War and G.A.R. Memorial Gate at Oakdale Park. The extensive restoration will be funded through the Parks and Recreation budget and will address decay on the two life-sized soldier sculptures, as well as multiple surrounding bronze medallions and plaques. Crystal Hammerschmidt anticipates this will be the most complex restoration project the city has managed, requiring the selected contractor to handle full removal, insurance and heavy equipment, with a goal to complete the work prior to next year's Smoky Hill River Festival.

BOOM! Salina Street Art & Mural Festival canceled amid sign code litigation

SALINA, Kan. — The BOOM! Salina Street Art & Mural Festival, originally scheduled for the first week of October, has been canceled due to an unrelated legal matter involving city sign codes. Festival organizers expressed disappointment over the cancellation, noting in a public statement that an unresolved legal matter regarding sign ordinances created uncertainty around their ability to proceed responsibly this year. Organizers explicitly clarified that the litigation does not involve the BOOM! festival or its organizers, and the decision is not a criticism of the city or the parties involved. It remains unclear if the international mural festival, which has been a major driver for local arts tourism, will return to Salina next year.

Volunteers needed for major Salina fall festivals

SALINA, Kan. — City officials and event organizers are urging residents to volunteer for a packed weekend of upcoming cultural events, including the Smoky Hill Museum Street Fair and the Land Institute's 50th annual Prairie Festival. The Street Fair, scheduled for Sept. 26, is seeking approximately 90 volunteers for various booths and activities, and those interested can sign up by contacting Rosa De la Cruz at 785-833-8021 or visiting SignUp.com. The Prairie Festival, running Sept. 25-27, will feature a large-scale natural public art build by Prairie Works Designs and is asking for community volunteers to assist with the installation. Both events are expected to draw significant crowds, underscoring a busy start to Salina's fall arts and tourism season.

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