The William F. Laman Library has had to reduce staff and hours thanks to cost overruns at its new branch library. It also announced it would no longer pay for exhibitions in its gallery on the second floor of the library at 2801 Orange St.
Mid-American Arts Alliance has come to the rescue, saying it will underwrite the cost of two upcoming exhibitions: “Spirited: Prohibition in America” (June 16-Aug. 11) and “Step Right Up! Behind the Scenes of the Circus Big Top, 1890-1965” (Sept. 1-Oct. 20).
From the Alliance:
“The Laman Library has been a strong partner with Mid-America Arts Alliance. As a longstanding user of our traveling exhibition programs, ExhibitsUSA and NEH on the Road, the Laman Library has brought innovative, high quality arts and humanities exhibitions to their visitors, and we wanted to ensure that continued,” said Mary Kennedy, CEO of M-AAA. “We were able to apply special grant money from our federal partners, foundations, corporations, and individuals to support continued programming at the Laman Library.”
The alliance supports artists and arts organizations in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas and produces and manages more than 450 exhibitions, performances, and professional development opportunities a year.