How do you build a city's cultural identity — and why does it matter more than you might think?

We sit down with Brad Anderson, Executive Director of Salina Arts and Humanities, the only city department of its kind in Kansas. Brad shares why Salina has been investing in arts and culture since 1966, what's at stake as the city embarks on a new cultural plan called The Big Picture, and why the Smoky Hill River Festival — celebrating its 50th anniversary this year — is so much more than a street fair. Then our producer Alicia joins us to pull back the curtain on Four Days in June, a documentary film five years in the making that captures what the River Festival truly means to the people of Salina.

Highlights

Salina is the only city in Kansas with a standalone Department of Arts and Culture — on par with parks, public works, and police
The new cultural plan "The Big Picture" will produce a 10-year roadmap for Salina's arts and cultural life by end of 2026
70% of Stiefel Theatre ticket sales come from outside Saline County — the arts are an economic engine
The River Festival turns 50 this year (May 11–14) — admission is $15 in advance, $20 at the gate, and kids 11 and under are FREE
The Festival Families First program provides free four-day wristbands to anyone who identifies as financially limited
First Treasures — the program where kids shop for art on their own — has been running for 25 years, and some of those kids are now adult patrons
Roughly 2,000 volunteers buy their own wristbands and power the festival — without them, admission would be closer to $75
Sculpture Tour Salina is in its 16th year; Boom Salina has brought over 35 murals to the city in just five years
Four Days in June premieres July 9 with a private screening, then screens at the Salina Art Cinema July 10–15

Chapters

0:00 — Pre-show: Sydney's dad and his new drone

2:16 — Welcome & episode intro: a two-part show

3:13 — Meet Brad Anderson: lifelong Kansan, exec director of Salina Arts & Humanities

4:00 — What is Arts & Humanities — and what makes Salina unique?

10:30 — The Cultural Plan: from the Wolfe Report to The Big Picture

17:56 — Private sector arts: Sculpture Tour Salina & Boom Salina

20:00 — Art you don't have to love: the value of public sculpture and civil dialogue

24:05 — River Festival week is here

24:36 — What IS the River Festival? A 50-year origin story

27:18 — Pricing, access, Festival Families First & volunteers

31:06 — First Treasures: teaching kids to be art patrons

40:36 — Post-interview reflections: Brad in the community

42:30 — Meet Alicia: producer at Fyli, director of Four Days in June

45:39 — Four Days in June: the film's name, form, and philosophy

47:50 — How they chose their interview subjects & building a diverse perspective

51:00 — Where to see the film, streaming plans & cultural release strategy

53:20 — How to get involved & closing

Resources

Salina Arts & Humanities
Smoky Hill Museum
Smoky Hill River Festival
Sculpture Tour Salina
Boom Salina
Stiefel Theatre
Salina Art Cinema — Screening Four Days in June
4 Days in June — The documentary film

Learn more about the podcast at askakansan.com!

This show is part of the ICT Podcast Network, for more information, visit ictpod.net