Salina Journal News: Arts and humanities strives for new image

Arts and humanities strives for new image

7/31/2010
By GARY DEMUTH | Salina Journal

The Salina Arts and Humanities Commission is getting a new image.

First, it's dropped the word "commission" from its title, which is reflected on a new logo created by a Kansas City, Mo., branding and marketing company. The city of Salina department at 211 W. Iron now will be known simply as Salina Arts and Humanities.

One reason for the change is to better identify the organization and the purpose it serves in the community, said Emily Lykens, marketing and development director at Salina Arts and Humanities.

With so many programs overseen by Salina Arts and Humanities -- including Arts Infusion in the Salina School District, Art a la Carte, Community Art & Design, Horizons Grants Program and the Smoky Hill River Festival -- Lykens said the department wanted to find a better and easier way to "connect the dots" between all the programming. The new logo is the first step in the department's more contemporary identity.

"It's a nod to the art deco style we see in our downtown," Lykens said.

In the logo, the words "Salina" and "Arts" are more dominant.

"The artist wanted the viewer to know exactly what they were looking at, which is 'arts,' " Lykens said.

The new identity also will help better distinguish the department as it applies for grants, Lykens said. A recent example was the recent "Arty" mobile arts van, underwritten by the Greater Salina Community Foundation, that brought arts projects directly to children in Salina.

This fall, the department will unveil a marketing campaign that will include the introduction of a new website, salinaarts.com.

The website, due to go up in late August or early September, will include a cultural calendar on which local cultural organizations can post upcoming arts-related events.

"It will also include links that will be helpful for local artists," she said. "We want this to be accessible to the arts community here and the public."

nReporter Gary Demuth can be reached at 822-1405 or by e-mail at gdemuth@salina.com.