With its air conditioner out of service, the Barton County Arts Center has curtailed its hours for the rest of the week, Executive Director Karen Neuforth announced Tuesday. The Arts Center, normally open weekday afternoons, will be open from 12:30-2 p.m. this week. Starting Monday, it will be open from 9 a.m. to noon.

Neuforth said the air conditioning stopped working some time ago at the center, located at Forest and Main in Great Bend. But with several fans running, the afternoon heat wasn’t unbearable — until recently.

A new five-ton air conditioning unit has been donated, although money still needs to be raised for the labor. However, "it might be October before it’s installed," she said. Donations to the Barton County Arts Council may be mailed to P.O. 154, Great Bend, KS 67530.

The Back Room of the Arts Center, a venue for acoustic music concerts and other programs, has window air conditioning units, although they can’t keep up with the ongoing triple-digit temperatures. No Back Room concerts are scheduled until October.