Kansas Governor Sam Brownback signed an executive order abolishing the Kansas Arts Commission, then announced the formation of a private 501(c)(3) organization to advance the arts in the state.

“Our state faces a nearly $500 million budget shortfall and has nearly 100,000 Kansas who are unemployed. As we look to grow Kansas’ economy and focus state government resources to ensure the most efficient use of taxpayer dollars, we must do all we can to protect the core functions of state government,” Gov. Brownback said. “As I said in my State-of-the-State speech, the days of ever-expanding government are over. This consolidation is a modest step toward making our economic development structure leaner, more efficient, more accountable, and more successful in growing the state.”