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The Arts Council of Johnson County / Art
January 3, 2024 In Art, Shooting Stars

2024 Shooting Stars Finalist

The Arts are important to every community’s quality of life and are an essential part of every student’s educational experience. Arts and creativity teach innovation, critical thinking, collaboration, communication and self-expression. The Shooting Stars Program celebrates Johnson County high school seniors for their excellence in the arts. Shooting Stars has recognized more than 1,000 high school seniors since 1997. Join us for the 2024 Gala on April 7, 2024. During the event we'll announce nine first place scholarships ($1400), nine second place scholarships ($700), and nine teacher honorariums ($300)! Thank you to the foundations, businesses and individuals who make Shooting Stars possible. Get

December 22, 2023 In Advocacy, Art, Arts & economic development, Arts & Humanities, Arts Events, Creative Placemaking, Engaging Community, Music, Performing arts, Photography, Public Art, Visual Arts

Inaugural Arts Advocacy Awards, 2023

Left to Right: Awardees Mayor Mike Boehm and Nicole Emmanuel (Awardee Mayor Peggy Dunn not featured) At the 2023 Creative Connections Breakfast, the Arts Council of Johnson County introduced a new award, the Arts Advocacy Award. This award was given to individuals who have dedicated significant time, effort, and leadership that has, in turn, positively impacted the creative economy and the arts in Johnson County. This could include, but is not limited to: a nominee's impact on arts education, volunteer work in the arts, nominee's work to increase access to the arts for underserved individuals and/or communities, nominee's leadership

April 1, 2023 In Art, Arts in education, Shooting Stars

2023 Shooting Stars Scholarship Recipients

Two-Dimensional Art- 1st Place Scholarship Recipient Jade Achen Shawnee Mission East High School Nominated by Adam Finkelston Two-Dimensional Art- 2nd Place Scholarship Recipient Patty Morales Blue Valley North High School Nominated by Tom Holland Three-Dimensional Art- 1st Place Scholarship Recipient Mira Becker Blue Valley West High School Nominated by Nicholas Tomasic Three-Dimensional Art- 2nd Place Scholarship Recipient Audrey Roberts Blue Valley Northwest High School Nominated by Carly Kimbrough Literature- 1st Place Scholarship Recipient Tess Vanberg Blue Valley High School Nominated by Maureen Davis Literature- 2nd Place Scholarship Recipient Sydney Bonnstetter De Soto High School Nominated by Ryan Meara Photography- 1st Place Scholarship Recipient Julia Schnittker Shawnee Mission South High School Nominated by Mark Rice Photography- 2nd Place Scholarship Recipient Sophia Volovoy Blue Valley Northwest High School Nominated by Brian Pollack Production &

December 5, 2022 In Art, Shooting Stars

2023 Shooting Stars Finalists

The Arts make an important contribution to any community’s quality of life and are an essential part of every student’s educational experience, teaching 21st Century workplace skills, innovation, critical thinking, collaboration, communication and self-expression. The Shooting Stars Program celebrates young artists and arts educators for their artistic achievements with college scholarships, awards and honorariums. Since 1997, the Shooting Stars Program has recognized over 1,000 high school seniors for their artistic excellence and contributions to their community. Nine first place scholarships of $1,400 each, nine second place scholarships of $700 each and nine teacher honorariums* of $300 each will be awarded (*to the nominating teacher of

October 25, 2022 In Advocacy, Art, Arts & economic development, Arts & Humanities, Arts Events, Creative Placemaking, Engaging Community, Music, Performing arts, Photography, Public Art, Visual Arts

Community Arts Mapping in Johnson County

Community Arts Mapping can be used to tell the story of arts and culture in Johnson County.  It helps us: understand our arts ecosystem, transportation patterns, and paths or barriers to access. grow our awareness of the diverse artists and arts programs that exist in their community, leading to better lines of communication as well as more equitable funding, professional development, and small business assistance. And gives us a better and more complete picture of our creative economy and its economic impact on our region. The mission of the Community Arts Map project is to help our community understand who and where artists, arts,

June 29, 2022 In Advocacy, Art, Arts & economic development, Uncategorized

AEP6 Study Information & Advisory Committee

Johnson County Arts & Economic Prosperity Study 6 The arts bring us inspiration and joy and make our community a beautiful place to live and work. Whether they’re located in a small or large town, nonprofit arts and culture organizations contribute to their communities’ quality of life, including their economic development. The nonprofit arts industry generates billions of dollars in economic activity and supports millions of jobs every year. In short, the arts mean business This year in partnership with ArtsKC, the Arts Council of Johnson County will participate in Americans for the Arts’ Arts & Economic Prosperity Study 6 or AEP6.  Our

May 17, 2022 In Advocacy, Art, Arts & economic development, Engaging Community

Arts & Economic Prosperity 6 Study in Johnson County

CHANGE THE CONVERSATION ABOUT THE ARTS The arts bring us inspiration and joy, and make our community a beautiful place to live and work. But the arts do so much more. We are excited to partner with Americans for the Arts to announce the launch of Arts & Economic Prosperity 6 (AEP6), the sixth national study of the economic impact of the nonprofit arts and culture industry. While the arts have the potential to impact many aspects of our community, the truth is they also have a power all on their own. The arts are an open invitation to engage in our history,

May 2, 2022 In Advocacy, Art, Arts Council

2022 KS Arts Councils Symposium Planning Committee

The Kansas Arts Councils Symposium brings together Arts Ambassadors around the state of Kansas to facilitate education, partnership, and celebration of the arts in our communities. The Symposium Planning Committee is comprised of arts professionals across the state of Kansas to coordinate and plan the Annual Kansas Arts Councils Symposium. The committee divides into four sub-committees which are Logistics, Sponsorship, Marketing, and Programming. We are excited to announce the committee members for this year's planning committee! The 2022 symposium will take place on Friday, September 30th. Kate AllenJohnson County Community CollegeOverland Park, KS Stacy Barnes547 Art CenterGreensburg, KS Lindsay BenackaDirector of Arts & Cultural

March 8, 2022 In Art, Arts in education, Shooting Stars

2023 Shooting Stars Judges

Ebonee Thomas, 2023 Shooting Stars Winds & Percussion Category Judge Ebonee Thomas is currently the Second Flute and Piccolo of The Dallas Opera. She has previously served as Principal Flute of the Knoxville Symphony, Principal Flute of the Florida Grand Opera, and Second Flute of the Houston Symphony. Ebonee spends her summers as a flutist with the Central City Opera in Colorado. She has also been guest principal with the Seattle Symphony, Fort Worth Symphony, San Antonio Symphony, and Santa Fe Opera. She received her Bachelor of Music degree from Southern Methodist University, her Master of Music degree from the New

August 4, 2020 In Art, Artists, Visual Arts

New Growth: An Interview With Brittany Noriega

Brittany Noriega is a Kansas City based artist who will be showing her work in a solo exhibition beginning October 2021 and running through January 2022. Noriega is a multidisciplinary artist who works with a variety of mediums and styles. “Every medium kind of has its own emotion and tells its own story,” she explained. “I like to do a little bit of everything.” Noriega said much of her current series, New Growth, centers on emotions, community, and stories of overcoming obstacles. She said the pieces often explore her struggle to leave an abusive relationship and make a new life after. In