Support the arts, Wichita

Even on a really cold day in February 2014, the inaugural Wichita Art Day of Giving demonstrated the generosity of the local arts audience and forged productive bonds among groups.

ArtDOG, as it’s called, brought in $548,000 to benefit 38 organizations from nearly 1,100 individual donors, with the coordination of the Wichita Community Foundation in partnership with the Knight Foundation and the local Arts Council.

It also started something special.

So at 12:01 a.m. Friday, the 24-hour combination celebration and fundraiser will start the clock on round two, this time with 55 nonprofit groups participating and a premier partnership with Spirit AeroSystems.

It will be another great opportunity for individuals to sample festivities around town and dedicate their dollars online (or off) to the causes of their choice.

The eclectic schedule, which piggybacks on Final Friday, will stretch across many of the city’s museums, galleries, university campuses, theaters and businesses, and include performances and other artful activities from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Old Town Square. To donate or check out the schedule of events, visit ictartdog.org, which also will give real-time updates of dollars raised.

Those who contribute will be serving the goal of a more creative, entertaining and enriching Wichita. And that means a stronger Wichita.

For the editorial board, Rhonda Holman

This story was originally published April 22, 2015 at 7:07 PM with the headline "Support the arts, Wichita."