Our Right to Win

by Mary Beth Jarvis

Our Right to Win...

Over the past 25 years, I've become a passionate promoter of our community. I’m proud of our progress and a huge believer in our potential to achieve even more as a hub for business, an arts and culture center and an engaged network of caring humans.

And how might we best seize the future successes our region deserves? In my opinion, it is through understanding and betting on our strengths ... What we are excellent at ... Where we have the right to win.

So what should we do with the incredibly valuable territory on the east side of the Arkansas River that, clearer than any other site, forms our regional core? As we debate about buildings -- concrete and steel – we can’t lose sight of the more important matter: The world-class, pride-worthy performing arts and community gatherings that the site has hosted for the last 50 years.

As CEO of Wichita Festivals, Inc. and chairman of the Century II Citizens Committee studying our performing arts needs, I was privileged to get an in-depth view of these community treasures. Our performing arts organizations have achieved incredible things despite where we've housed them. And our community festivals -- including Riverfest, one of the 40 largest outdoor events in the world -- have persevered even as they've been shoehorned into inhospitable spaces in and around Century II's enormous footprint. (It’s two and a half times bigger than performing arts needs, plus flanked by unwelcoming expanses of concrete.)

Even hampered by clunky facilities, these vital community assets have served generations well. We deserve to be proud of the substantial economic and cultural value they have created for all who live and visit here. Imagine the heights they can climb to -- and the value and joy we can draw from them -- if we design spaces that foster their continued success.

If we get behind our winners and give them the tools they need, then all of us can share in the victory.

Mary Beth Jarvis is the Executive Director of NXTUS and was previously the CEO of Wichita Festivals, Inc. Jarvis also served as the chair of the Century II Citizens Advisory Committee.

Design for new performing arts center
should be as bold as Century II

by Phillip S. Frick

Famed architect and city planner Daniel Hudson Burnham once said, “make no little plans; they have no magic to stir the blood and probably themselves will not be realized . . . . Remember that our children and our grandchildren are going to do things that would stagger us. Let your watchword be order and your beacon beauty.”

While Burnham has long since passed, his vision remains in the hearts and sight lines of many cities throughout the world. And his adherence to a bold vision has relevance for Wichita today, especially as our community engages with the Riverfront Legacy Master Plan and the future of the east bank of the Arkansas River.

In 1992, I was one member of a board of trustees which laid the foundational vision and master plan for Exploration Place. Following the words of Burnham, we sought out internationally acclaimed architect Moshe Safdie and partnered with our talented local architects at SJCF Architecture. Funded through a public/private partnership, Exploration Place now stands as a beacon of design, inclusivity and vision for our community.

Though now retired, I view the future of our community through the lens of Wichita’s young people. We have a tremendous opportunity and obligation to keep our community’s youth in the city my wife and I have grown to love. As we’ve learned from the Wichita Community Foundation’s Focus Forward campaign (which brought James Chung back to Wichita for an economic reality check) and Project Wichita, we ignore the voice of the future generations to our peril.

At the heart of it, the path to growth of Wichita requires the retention and recruitment of talented people — and from the start they need to “feel” the livability of Wichita through what they perceive: excellence and pride.

With that challenge in view, the Riverfront Legacy Master Plan coalition has embarked on a visionary, noble and timely process to bring to life a bold vision for the east bank of our Arkansas River. This effort is about the future of the community, not just for the next five, but for the next 50 years.

As I look at the scenarios presented to the community with the foregoing in mind, one thing stands out. The performing arts building lends itself to being a dramatic beacon, with iconic and bold design visible both in day and night. Do not skimp on design. While it has served our community well over the past 50 years, I believe it is time to say goodbye to Century II and to honor its spirit of innovation with something that looks to the future. Above all, do this right. And through excellence in the design and master planning throughout instill a sense of pride among all the people of Wichita.

Wichita, let’s make no little plans.

Phillip S. Frick is a retired attorney and partner with Foulston Siefkin. He is an honorary trustee of the board of Exploration Place, where he led the board of trustees in the construction and master planning of the museum’s building and grounds.

A letter to wichita from the future (2070)

By Darryl Kelly

Why? That is the question.

Why, when you had the chance to seize an opportunity in 2020, did you choose to squander it? It was your time to be bold, to act, to strategically set future generations up for success. It was your duty to make progress, to align Wichita in a way that would set the stage for prosperity in the decades to come.

Regrettably, while you were stuck in a cycle of reviewing the reports, debating the semantics, posturing over the trivial, and paralyzed by inaction, the opportunity for invigorating the downtown core and moving the city forward slipped right through your fingers.

As a result, due to your lack of foresight, everyone lost out. You lost the trust of talented young professionals, and they moved on. You lost the ability to attract talent and businesses. You lost the hearts and minds of area college and high school students. They all lost faith in Wichita for not making an investment in the future. You see, most investments are a long-term game. The benefits and reverberating effects are not felt sometimes until many years later. However, this does not absolve you from laying the groundwork.

P.S. I know in 2020 the play “Hamilton” was extremely popular. Well, in 2070 it is still going strong. It has become one of the longest running shows in history. Unfortunately, I had to take my family to Tulsa to see it.

Sincerely, A future Wichita resident

For the Wichita of today, I ask you: Is this the letter we want to write 50 years from now? What are we waiting for? The time is now. Let’s choose growth over politics. I implore you to capitalize on the great momentum we have right now and make the investment in our future generations. I am reminded of a Chinese proverb that says: The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second-best time is today. Let’s plant the seeds now that will flourish to make Wichita a major U.S. city and world player for decades to come. Wichita, what do you want your legacy to be?

Darryl Kelly, a project manager for Credit Union of America, represents W: A Community of Young Professionals on the Riverfront Legacy Master Plan coalition.

Former skeptics say trust planning process


By Angela Cassette and Wayne Bryan

In the musical theatre, we are collaborators. We plan, we problem solve, we are a team. It is the only way we make it to opening night, and this way of working also brings great joy.

We have learned not to expect collaboration from the private and public sectors. In fact, a few times in recent years, Music Theatre Wichita staff and board have marched ourselves down to city hall to have a public discussion with elected officials. Those were times we felt like decisions were being made to impact us, yet we had no seat at the table, let alone being part of the team.

When Mayor Jeff Longwell appointed a citizen’s committee to explore what solutions could be found for Century II, that impression changed. We were cheered by the caliber of work the committee did. Our statements in support of their findings can be found on our website at mtwichita.org/about/centuryii. 

In short, despite our great affection for Century II, the work we’ve done here, and the ways it has shaped our organization, it is time for performing arts and conventions to have new, modern facilities.

The people who seem most determined to retain the status quo with Century II are those who have never lived and worked inside this severely outdated facility. Those of us who have striven for decades to do first-class work within the confines of this building are unanimous in our opinion that a city of Wichita’s size and caliber deserves to have a first-rate cultural life to drive economic growth and retain talent. The structure of Century II is such that no amount of renovation can make the space workable for the future of the arts in our community, though we fully expect to continue operating as we are, working around the challenges of the building, until a new performing arts center is completed.

One of the best things to come out of the work of the citizen’s committee was momentum. Their work inspired several of our business leaders to gather a coalition and begin a master planning process, creating a vision and a workable plan for the east bank of the river.

We shouldn’t be surprised that some are calling into question the legitimacy of the master plan process. The two of us have a combined 43 years working in arts management, yet we have never been part of a planning process like this one. Highly professional, transparent, open and inviting, with active and respectful listening – this has truly been a model process.

As one of the major tenants of Century II, we have been invited to participate at every stage, and our opinions have been sought, not only in public or at meetings, but also as the design team worked through possible scenarios.

There has been a wealth of inspiring conversation at the public meetings. We’ve seen fellow citizens of Wichita engaging deeply, asking questions, reserving judgment, weighing the costs of each scenario. It has made us hopeful that maybe – just maybe – Wichita is one of those few places where we can still come and reason together. Where people don’t surround themselves with an echo chamber of those who tell them what they want to hear, but rather listen to understand details and complexities. Where we can truly engage in dialogue and create something future generations will cherish.

It feels daring to hope so much in times like these. But in the musical theatre, we are dreamers. We hope you will dream with us.

Angela Cassette is managing director and Wayne Bryan is producing director of Music Theatre Wichita.