112 E 11th . Hays, Kansas . 785-625-7522
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Join our Campaign!
Make a pledge. Make a gift to the campaign, pledged over a three-year giving period. Satisfy your pledge through monthly, quarterly, or annual payments, or structure your own pledge payment schedule, by check or credit card. Gifts (one-time or pledged) can be made directly to the Hays Arts Council or through the Heartland Community Foundation (links below). We will be happy to send you reminders of pledge payments as they become due.
Hays Arts Council
Make any cash gift of $5,000 or more, including gifts pledged over a multi-year period. Our HAC team will gladly make arrangements with you to accept your gift.
heartland community foundation
Through the HCF, you can make any cash gift under $5,000 and easily schedule a payment plan online. HCF can also facilitate gifts of securities and other such gifts.
PLANNING FOR THE NEXT GENERATION
Founded in 1967, the Hays Arts Council has served as provider and facilitator of arts events, activities, and experiences for the citizens of Hays, Kansas and the surrounding area for over half a century. We are now planning for the next the next generation as we believe life is better with art because it:
- Engages, educates and entertains people of all ages
- Brings understanding to different groups
- Generates community discussion about social issues
- Creates opportunities for our children and teaches new ideas and offers different perspectives
- Promotes innovation and creativity
- Increases community wellbeing
- Contributes to economic development for the community
- Creates community identity & cohesion
The HAC is proud to be Kansas' first community arts organization and to have been integral to the successful Downtown Hays revitalization of the 1990s and to have received the Kansas Governor's Arts Award in 1998. The City of Hays received the Governor's Arts Award in 2010.
The Hays Arts Council has owned its original building, formerly the Hays Daily News, since 1977. In 2007 it purchased the Annex, which now serves as a multi-purpose facility for the community. Organizations throughout of community regularly utilize our buildings to host functions and almost everyone who lives in Ellis County has been to an event at the Hays Arts Center. Now, it's time to join our two buildings, elevate the standards of our operations, and continue the intentions and legacy of those who founded the HAC over five decades ago.
We invite you to join us as we work to ensure the future of arts and culture in our community and the HAC's proud role as "The HeART of Hays"
funds raised as of May 1, 2025
$2,006,146
towards our campaign goal of
$3,000,000
MOVING FORWARD
In 2024, the Hays Arts Council launched a $3 million renovation campaign to:
- Connect three spaces across the existing two buildings to make one space seamless, efficient and safe for everyone
- Create educational and experiential spaces for expanded programs where patrons can engage in and respond to art
- Modernize and enhance aesthetics of the existing spaces
- Expand the kitchen and add conference space as well as easily accessible restrooms
- Improve our facility to make it worthy of the outstanding exhibitions, programs and events we provide for the community
- Attract even more people to Downtown Hays
"The Hays Arts Council makes our community better! It is the nucleus of the arts community. It knows no boundaries of age, race, religion or culture. Art stretches our intellectual horizons, taps our emotions, deepens our humanity, makes us less alone in the world. At the Hays Arts Council, art in all its forms are presented and celebrated."
Dereama Allenbaugh ~ Member of the Hays Arts Council and Community
Virtual Tour
We invite you to take a virtual tour through proposed renovation connecting our buildings at 112 E. 11th & 1010 Main - as prepared by Baker McMillan AIA Architects, P.A.
HAC capital campaign efforts are under the guidance of consultant Judy Keller, Keller Consulting
As an integral part of the Hays community, the HAC operates the Hays Arts Center and Annex with high standards of community commitment and service, providing broad and enriching programming in its galleries, in the 12 elementary schools we serve, and across the community. The plans presented here will consolidate space and elevate operations.
Thank You to our investors!
major funding for this project provided by the
Robert & Patricia Schmidt Foundation
Donors to date - as of May 1, 2025
Campaign Committee
Jo Ann Jennings, chair (HAC board vice pres.) - pjajennings@gmail.com
Brittney Squire (HAC board pres.) - brittneymsquire@gmail.com
Sharon Dreher (HAC board treas.) - jburns@ruraltel.net
Linda Ganstrom
Scott Gross
Stacey Jones
Janis Lee
Sara Meder
Jennifer Sauer
Stacey Smith
Patty Stull
Catherine Trieschmann-Miller
Brenda Meder, executive director - bmeder1038@aol.com
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