At its fall family event, WoodFest, on Saturday, Symphony in the Flint Hills revealed the location of its 2018 Signature Event and, in a surprise move, the annual themes for the next four years.
“We are excited to return to the beautiful site of Rosalia Ranch in Butler County for our 2018 Signature Event on June 9,” said Christy Davis, Executive Director. “We’re also looking forward to exploring the natural, cultural and structural elements of water in the Flint Hills region through year-round programming.” Through generous support from the Kansas Humanities Council, SFH will host a travelling Smithsonian exhibit, “WaterWays.” The exhibit focuses on the connections between people and water worldwide.
The organization also surprised the WoodFest audience by announcing themes for 2019-2021. “We hope that sharing these themes in advance will inspire other people and organizations to develop creative programming in their own Flint Hills communities,” said Davis. In 2019, SFH will shine the spotlight on the state’s motto “Ad Astra Per Aspera,” with regionwide activities that tie to Jump!Star, a multi-faceted arts program developed by artist George Ferrandi with support from the National Endowment for the Arts. The region’s native building material, limestone, will be the focus in 2020. And in 2021, the organization will commemorate the 200th Anniversary of the Santa Fe Trail.
“We have some exciting plans in the works for the next four years as we advance our mission to heighten appreciation and knowledge of the Flint Hills tallgrass prairie year-round throughout the region,” said Davis. “This comprehensive programming is possible only through the commitment of generous supporters like our Major Presenting Sponsor, BNSF.”
“For more than 150 years, BNSF has connected Kansas communities to the world,” said Zak Andersen, president of BNSF Railway Foundation. “As a company that is proud of its legacy and confident in its future, BNSF is proud to help Symphony in the Flint Hills celebrate the railroad’s past and enhance appreciation for the rare beauty and unique culture of the Kansas Flint Hills.”
The Symphony in the Flint Hills Signature Event features the Kansas City Symphony for the sunset concert and always falls on the second Saturday in June. Tickets for the 2018 Signature Event will go on sale March 3. General admission tickets are $95 plus tax for adults and $50 for children under 12. For more ticket information closer to the date, visit www.symphonyintheflinthills.org or like us on Facebook. A limited number of Patron Packages are available for those who want to financially support the organization while experiencing the event from a premium vantage point. A wide range of sponsorship opportunities are also available. For more information, please call 620-273-8955.