Salina Arts & Humanities is seeking public feedback about arts and cultural programs in Salina through a new online survey. The survey, live as of October 28, asks questions about the Smoky Hill River Festival, accessibility and availability of the arts, and community perceptions about cultural-arts programs and services.

The survey’s questions are modeled after a 2007 survey that helped shape The Big Ideas Community Cultural Plan. “We thought it was a good time to check the progress being made on implementing The Big Ideas goals,” says SA&H Executive Director Brad Anderson. “This is the best way to determine if the goals and objectives are being reached and how we might continue to improve.”

The original Big Ideas survey in 2007 helped shape four major goals and 58 strategies that were implemented and measured over five years. Since that time, 54 of the strategies have been implemented while others have been updated as community needs have changed. Students and faculty at Kansas Wesleyan University helped refine and update the 2016 survey and will assist with data interpretation.

Salina Arts & Humanities wants to ensure that survey respondents reflect the diversity of the region.“We will strive to have the number of local and regional respondents as well as the demographic breakdown reflect our area as realistically as possible,” says Anderson. All survey responses will remain confidential.

Continued regional marketing, improved public art communication, and targeted programs for underserved segments are among community enhancements made since The Big Ideas plan was adopted in spring 2009. Anderson says that The Big Ideas cultural plan has helped shape many programs and services provided by SA&H and by private cultural organizations across Salina.

“The Arts & Humanities Commission uses the Big Ideas as a constant guide for what we should be doing,” says Arts Commissioner Steve Hoekstra. “It directs our work and priorities as we try to improve the arts for everyone. As advisors to the city, we want to effectively represent what the people want in and from their community.”

The 2016 online survey also includes new questions regarding the Smoky Hill River Festival. The Salina Arts & Humanities Commission and staff are seeking updated details about customer-buying habits and admission-button sharing. “It has been a long time since we surveyed Festival attendees about how they use their buttons,” says Anderson. The online survey will also provide some detailed information about what local Festival fans enjoy most and how many days they typically attend.

The new data will be compared to 2007 survey results and will be reported in early 2017. The survey is available on the Salina Arts & Humanities website at salinaarts.com. SA&H will offer incentives for those who complete the survey by Friday, November 11.

For needed accommodations, please call Amanda Morris at Salina Arts & Humanities at 785-309-5770 between 8:00 a.m. – Noon and 1:00 – 5:00 p.m.  Every effort will be made to accommodate known disabilities. For material or speech access, please call at least five working days prior to the event.