Join the Emporia Arts Council for the celebration of our 50th Anniversary! What began with a simple phone call and a bold idea became the foundation of something extraordinary. As the story goes, while attempting to contact the president of the AAUW, the caller accidentally reached Rosamond Hirschorn — a former president who seized the moment to bring high-quality ballet to Emporia. With the support of AAUW and a passionate group of community members, that unexpected connection sparked the creation of the Emporia Arts Council.

What began with performances soon expanded into visual arts, educational programming, and classes for students — laying the groundwork for 50 years of creativity, connection, and cultural enrichment in Emporia.

As we celebrate this milestone anniversary, we honor the visionaries who took that first chance and the countless artists, supporters, volunteers, and community members who have carried the mission forward for five remarkable decades.