Love Wichita’s Fisch Haus gallery? Now you can prove it

Buying art at a gallery can sometimes be out of reach to the average Final Friday-goer.

So how about buying gallery merchandise?

Fisch Haus, one of Wichita’s longest-running art galleries, recently began selling branded merchandise as a fundraiser for its nonprofit arm, Fisch Bowl.

You can pick up a handmade messenger bag, a Fisch Haus pint glass, or a blanket with an embroidered Fisch Haus logo.

The bag and the pint glass can be purchased together, as part of an “Art Show Survival Kit,” said Elizabeth Stevenson, director of the Fisch Haus. That survival kit also includes a coupon for a free can of Central Standard Brewing beer.

“We call it the Art Show Survival Kit, implying you need a little bit of beer to get through these things sometimes, which is a little tongue-in-cheek,” Stevenson said.

Sales of the merchandise have been brisk, she said – about half of the gallery’s stock has been depleted already.

“We’ve sold all of the pink (embroidered messenger bags), funnily enough,” she said.

Stevenson, who has also set up an online Etsy shop to sell the merchandise, said she’s also considering partnering with the Workroom to sell the items on consignment.

All of the proceeds from merchandise sales go to Fisch Bowl, which helps fund the events Fisch Haus puts on, generally for free.

“This is kind of a way to offer our friends and people that care about Fisch Haus a way of giving money to the not-for-profit so we can continue to do these events, while at the same time getting something out of it in return,” Stevenson said.

Fisch Haus is open by appointment and during events – call 316-200-5200 to schedule an appointment, or message the gallery on Facebook. Visit www.fischhaus.com for more information.

This story was originally published May 25, 2017 at 10:04 AM with the headline "Love Wichita’s Fisch Haus gallery? Now you can prove it."