By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
The Hays Arts Council announced Friday a $3-million capital campaign to renovate its downtown space.
The council owns the current gallery at 112 E. 11th St., the connected Madd Matter storefront and the Hays Arts Center Annex at 1010 Main St.
The project seeks to connect all three spaces—8,300 square feet—to expand gallery space and make the annex more accessible as an educational space.
The Hays Arts Council is the oldest community arts organization in the state. Since 1977, the council has owned the main gallery building, which used to house the Hays Daily News. The annex was purchased in 2007.
The Madd Matter is about 3 feet in elevation different than the annex building. The renovation will include stairs and a ramp to connect the buildings.
The renovation will also include adding a kitchen and conference room.
"We're just trying to envision what we need 50 years from now. What does this space look like in 50 years? Because that is what we are planning for in our building, which is to have this available in the future for the generations that follow," said Jo Ann Jennings, Hays Arts Council board vice president.
The fundraising campaign for the project began in February with staff, board members and members of the project steering committee. One hundred percent of those stakeholders have pledged money to the capital campaign. That portion of the campaign raised $345,000.
Volunteers then conducted a silent campaign, raising funds from area philanthropists. The silent campaign raised more than $365,000.
On Monday, the Robert and Patricia Schmidt Foundation announced a $1 million donation to the project.
Gary Shorman, president of the Schmidt Foundation, said Pat Schmidt was a champion of the arts in Hays and a Hays Arts Council volunteer.
The Schmidt Foundation donation brings the total raised to $1.7 million, Jennings said.
"This thriving community called Hays, Kansas, isn't built by one person, one business or one organization or even one foundation," Jennings said.
"It's built through partnerships with all of the community members, businesses, foundations and nonprofits like the Hays Arts Council. That's what makes Hays such a wonderful place to live."
The council is now asking the community to donate to the campaign.
Donations can be made online at https://haysartscouncil.org/heart-of-hays. Donations can also be made via cash or check at the Hays Arts Center.
The fundraising will be a three-year pledge project.
The Hays Arts Center is selling Heart of Hays campaign T-shirts for $25. You can order them at the center by paying by cash or check only.
Brittney Squire, Hays Arts Council board vice president, said the campaign steering committee plans other events to raise funds for the project in the coming months, including a booth at Oktoberfest. More details on those events will be released at a later date.
Toby Flores, FHSU sculpture professor, created a large iron heart that will be displayed in the window of the arts center annex and will show the progress toward the council's capital campaign goal.
The council board hopes to break ground on the renovation by the end of 2025. Construction will take an estimated 12 to 18 months. Completion could be in 2027.
