Wheatland Electric Cooperative Inc. announced on Tuesday that its Sharing Success Fund, managed by the Scott Community Foundation, has awarded a $1,000 grant to Barton Arts Movement to be used toward the Sunflower Building mural project.

Barton Arts Movement has been working with the Great Bend Chamber of Commerce to develop a sunflower-inspired mural for the north side of the Sunflower Building located at 1125 Williams Street and has partnered with artist Brady Scott to bring their vision to life, according to a news release from WEC. 

Seed money for this project came through a leadership gift from the estate of Reta Brack, a long-time Chamber supporter, volunteer, and lover of sunflowers. Sharing Success grant funds awarded will also be used to help fund the mural. The size and scale of the sunflower mural project will be determined based on the total dollars raised. Donations of any size are accepted.  

BAM is a is a grass-roots committee which creates community pride through public art. It operates under the Golden Belt Community Foundation. 

BAM has facilitated nearly 10 projects in Barton County since 2021. With the support of their donors, BAM is able to create spaces that facilitate public art by bringing together talented artists with spaces for them to create.

The Scott Community Foundation began formally accepting applications for grants from the Wheatland Electric Sharing Success Fund from community-based organizations on Dec. 1, 2012. WEC and CoBank have each contributed $10,000 this again year to the fund. The fund has made $145,000 available to community-based organizations and projects across WEC’s service territory.

Questions should be referred to Alli Conine, director of member services and corporate communications, at 620-874-4563 or aconine@weci.net.