Save the dates for the 6th Annual Kansas Arts Network Annual Conference (previously known as Kansas Arts Councils Symposium) in Wichita, Kansas. The conference brings together emerging and established arts administrators, organizations, and artists from around Kansas to facilitate professional development, partnership, and celebration of the arts in our communities.
The 2026 event is presented in partnership with the City of Wichita’s Division of Arts and Cultural Services.
-
Registration is open now via this link. We aim to ensure this conference is affordable and accessible to anyone who is interested in attending.
Members, students, and early-bird registrants receive a 25% off discount. Early bird discount code; tweettweet26 is available until June 12, 2026. Members or students: contact us at kansasartsnetwork@gmail.com for the registration code.
Registration fees help cover the cost of presenting the conference. Unfortunately, we will not be able to refund any registration fee paid after June 19, 2026. here -
Session Tracks: Registered participants may attend any session, but there are also guided tracks available for targeted interests. Tracks include:
1. Engaging with Youth Track: Designed for educators, community members, and teaching artists who want to deepen their practice through arts integration. This track offers, interactive workshops and case studies of arts educational programming. Participants will explore practical, creative strategies for using the arts to engage youth in meaningful learning and experiences.
2. Individual Artist Track: Geared towards independent artists, this track explores topics such as working with venues, how to monetize your work, public art, and negotiating contracts.
3. Arts Administrator Track: Geared towards those running an arts organization or small business, this track explores topics such as fundraising, business practices, board development, and venue management.
4. General Track: Geared towards anyone in or around the creative sector, this track explores topics such as advocacy, health and wellness, community engagement, and special project case studies.
-
Lodging: The Hotel at Old Town is the preferred conference lodging. There is a block of rooms set for the event with a $135-$145 room rate (+taxes and fees). Hotel at Old Town is located at 830 E. 1st Street which is a 6-minute walk to the conference venue, CityArts.
Attendees may book their reservations at any time using this link: Hotel at Old Town .
-
Sponsorship: Join us in helping make this conference possible! Sponsorship helps keep our registration costs low and ensures that artists presenting their craft at the conference are adequately paid for the services. Check out the sponsorship levels available or let us know if you are interested in a custom sponsorship option that suites your organization or business.
The event is generously sponsored in part by the City of Wichita, Kansas Health Foundation, The Shout, and CityArts.
-
Session Proposal or Requests: The Kansas Arts Network, in partnership with the City of Wichita's Division of Arts and Cultural Services, is open to proposals and requests for the upcoming Kansas Arts Network Arts Conference. We cannot guarantee that every proposed or requested session will be accepted, but we will do our best to ensure the conference is as dynamic and helpful for our potential attendees as possible. Deadline to submit: April 30, 2026.
Session proposals and requests have closed. We will be notifying selected proposals as soon as we can.
-
Venue: The conference will take place primarily at CityArts located at 334 N. Mead in Old Town Square.
Additional venues within walking distance and field trip excursions are also being planned.