Carnegie Arts Center of Leavenworth, Kansas

Infobox_nrhp | name =Leavenworth Public Library
nrhp_type =


caption =
location= Leavenworth, Kansas
lat_degrees = 39
lat_minutes = 18
lat_seconds = 48
lat_direction = N
long_degrees = 94
long_minutes = 54
long_seconds = 55
long_direction = W
locmapin = Kansas
area =
built =1900
architect= Sandquist,M.R.
architecture= Classical Revival
added = July 30, 1986
governing_body = Local
refnum=86002010cite web|url=http://www.nr.nps.gov/|title=National Register Information System|date=2008-04-15|work=National Register of Historic Places|publisher=National Park Service]

The Carnegie Arts Center of Leavenworth, Kansas is a private, non-profit, self-supporting organization. The mission of the Carnegie is to provide quality fine arts instruction, exhibition and performance opportunities, while offering professionals in the arts fields a facility in which to teach, exhibit, perform and share their talents and understanding of the arts.

The Carnegie Arts Center is located in an historic building which originally housed the Leavenworth County Library. The building was constructed in 1900 with funds donated by Andrew Carnegie. The two story brick and limestone building was the first Carnegie Library in Kansas and is listed on the National and State Historical Registers. The Carnegie Arts Center began in 1987 with a visual arts program consisting of instruction in painting, art history and sculpture. The organization has built programs in music, dance, pottery, and drama to complement the visual arts program. Private music lessons were added in 1998. Program increases have been implemented by expanding the space for activities and purchasing equipment. The Center is developing a stronger relationship with school districts and community organizations such as the Youth Achievement Center, the Guidance Center, and Main Street. Each year over 20,00 flyers are delivered to local schools in Tonganoxie, Basehor, Bonner Springs, and Easton to inform students and parents of activities. The center also hosts the Greater Leavenworth Student Art Show, inviting art departments from these county schools to participate. The board of directors is a twelve member panel elected for a three year staggered term of office. The executive committee is made up of board officers. The other committees are Nominating, Personnel and Finance, Fundraising and Development and By-Laws. Board members represent many areas of interest and commitment in the community. Staff for the Carnegie Arts Center currently consists of two part-time administrators and a four member office staff. The Faculty is made up of twenty professionally trained, independently contracted instructors.

The Carnegie is funded primarily through memberships, corporate donation, and revenue generated from classes. Some programs are funded in part by the Kansas Arts Commission, the National Endowment for the Arts and the Leavenworth Parks and Recreation Department. The City of Leavenworth has assisted the Center by awarding Community Development Block Grant funds for building repairs. Building improvements have been accomplished without debt through the Kansas State Historical Society's Heritage Trust Fund and Tax Credit program.The Carnegie Arts Center is also a member of the National Guild of Community Schools of the Arts which was founded in 1937 and incorporated in 1954.

References

External links

[http://www.leavenwortharts.org Carnegie Arts Center Homepage]