Salina ranks in top 15% of small Midwest cities for arts, but consultants flag gaps in venues, teen options and awareness
Salina ranks in the top 15% of small Midwest cities for arts vibrancy, but residents see gaps in mid-size performance space, offerings for teens and young adults, and ways to learn what's happening, according to an update on the city's cultural assessment and strategic plan.
Keen Independent Research, a Denver-based consulting firm, prepared the slides for the Salina City Commission's study session at 2 p.m. Monday, Oct. 26, at the City-County Building, 300 W. Ash St., Room 107. The update is part of the session's "2026 State of the Arts" agenda item. No formal action is taken at study sessions.
The plan is being developed by Salina Arts & Humanities with community members and partners. It is meant to set direction for Salina's arts and culture, guide city and community investment, and build on the 2009 Big Ideas Community Cultural Plan, according to the slides.
What residents said
More than 700 people took part in the survey. About 60% of participants were not closely affiliated with the arts sector or government, the slides say. About 23% identified as hobbyist artists or creatives, and fewer than 12% as professional artists. In August, city staff told the City Commission that about 40% of respondents identified as artists, musicians or people working in an arts role, Salina311 reported at the time. The new slides do not list a separate category for people working in arts roles.
Among respondents:
- 89% said arts and culture add to Salina's appeal.
- 81% said they support city funding and resources for arts and culture.
- 79% said private businesses have a key role.
Salina's arts vibrancy rank puts it in the top 30% of Midwest cities of all sizes, the top 20% of small cities nationwide and the top 15% of small Midwest cities, according to the slides.
"Salina punches above its weight in arts and culture and should do everything it can to continue doing so," one participant said in a quote included in the slides.
The gaps
Artists and creatives listed affordable workspace and places to share their work as their top priorities, according to the slides.
The slides list Salina venues by size. Large venues include Tony's Pizza Events Center, with about 6,500 seats, and the Stiefel Theatre, with 1,265. The Temple, with about 450 seats, is the city's only listed venue for 250 to 999 people other than Theatre Salina's Kephart Theatre, and the slides label it "at risk."
"Salina doesn't have a lot of infrastructure to support players who want to perform," one participant said. "We have a couple of bars with coffee hours, the Stiefel, but we don't have [venues] in between."
The slides also identify children and young adults as underserved. "There is nowhere for kids, especially teens and young adults," one participant said.
On awareness, one participant said, "Many times I have learned of classes, showings, etc., after registration had expired or the event had already been held."
The slides also note that the official population forecast calls for 4% growth over 30 years, which alone would be "unlikely to substantially impact arts and culture demand."
Draft recommendations
Keen's preliminary draft recommendations fall into five areas:
- Sustain and strengthen Salina's cultural foundation, including the city's long-term commitment to arts, culture and heritage.
- Make arts and culture more accessible, visible and relevant to all of Salina, including more opportunities for children, teens and young adults.
- Make Salina a place where artists and creatives can build a life and career, including more affordable creative workspace.
- Connect Salina's arts community and build shared cultural capacity, including clarifying "the future roles of Salina Arts and Humanities, the City and community partners."
- Use arts and culture to drive Salina's identity, downtown vitality and regional appeal, including a more coordinated way for residents and visitors to find out what's happening.
What's next
According to the slides, the draft plan will be developed in November and revised in December. A public review period is set for Jan. 5–12, followed by a final review by the Arts Commission and a presentation to the City Commission for adoption.
