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Art Institute applying for fed non-profit status
Founder Blynda Christian, left and studio coordinator Amanda Sayle are making the Art Institute of McKinney a non-profit education resource. Robert James Hughes | McKinney Courier-Gazette
By Brandi Hart, McKinney Courier-Gazette
The Art Institute of McKinney is looking to expand its reach and bring in more donations by applying for federal non-profit status. Such a designation would give people throughout the nation the opportunity to financially contribute to the institute.
The institute became a state non-profit group on Dec. 20, 2006, and it is applying for the 501(3)(c) federal non-profit status because it wants to serve as many artists of all ages in the area as possible, said Amanda Sayle, assistant director and studio coordinator for the institute.
“We see this as a great opportunity to build our programs and reach out to even more
more whose lives can be touched through participation in the arts,” Sayle said. “We want to make a difference in the community, as a true community art center, and this is one way to make it happen.”
She hopes to mail the application this week and expects to know if the institute will receive the federal non-profit status in a couple of months, Sayle said. If approved, the federal non-profit status will be retroactive and granted from Dec. 20, 2006, when the Art Institute of McKinney received its state non-profit status.
The institute, located at 113 Kentucky Street, has offered programs to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Collin County, CITY House in Plano, the McKinney ISD transitional education class, programming at the Women’s Museum in Dallas, fine art programs at multiple elementary schools, Kids Nite Out at the Community Recreational Center, and ongoing scholarship programs.
“Reaching the community through art education has always been our passion. We are as actively involved in area events and programs as we are in our own programming,” said Blynda Christian, founder and director of the institute.
The Art Institute of McKinney has been open since Nov. 1, 2002. Christian, along with Sayle started the Krewe of Barkus annual dog parade in downtown to bring a little of Louisiana’s Mardi Gras flavor to McKinney.
The institute’s board of directors is currently seeking individuals who are active in the community to serve as advisory board members who can assist in guiding and developing programs during the national non-profit transition.
Those who are interested in being a part of the advisory board or know someone who is a qualified candidate, wish to make a donation to the institute’s programming, or would like to volunteer, call 972-548-7830 and ask for Blynda or Amanda, or send an e-mail to info@artinstituteofmc-kinney.com.
Contact staff writer Brandi Hart at hartb@acnpapers.com. To post a comment online, access this story at www.scntx.com.
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