© 2024 KMUW
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Wichita Artist Wins $100K Knight Foundation Grant

Wichita Community Foundation

Wichita artist Armando Minjarez has been awarded a $100,000 grant from the Knight Foundation for his idea to connect two neighborhoods in the city.

"Horizontes," or "Horizons," is a community project that focuses on solidarity between Wichita’s North End and northeast neighborhoods. Minjarez says there will be a series of murals through an industrial corridor, including artwork on a giant grain elevator. Community engagement workshops will center on the experiences of people of color in Wichita.

“This is a great opportunity to combine two things that I love, which is art and community empowerment, to not only create a platform for artists of color, but it’s an opportunity for neighborhood residents to take ownership of their space,” Minjarez says.

An international artist and several Kansas artists will participate. 

A new mobile app is also planned for the project to help capture the residents' stories and ideas. Data gathered will be prioritized to help guide future development, investment and policy that affects the neighborhoods.

The Knight Cities Challenge attracted more than 4500 ideas. Minjarez was one of 33 winners selected across the U.S.

--

Carla Eckels is assistant news director and the host of Soulsations. Follow her on Twitter @Eckels.

To contact KMUW News or to send in a news tip, reach us at news@kmuw.org.

Carla Eckels is Director of Organizational Culture at KMUW. She produces and hosts the R&B and gospel show Soulsations and brings stories of race and culture to The Range with the monthly segment In the Mix. Carla was inducted into The Kansas African American Museum's Trailblazers Hall of Fame in 2020 for her work in broadcast/journalism.