Visit Salina
Visit Salina is proud to announce that SculptureTour Salina has been honored by the Travel Industry Association of Kansas (TIAK) with the prestigious Community Collaboration Award at the 2025 Kansas Tourism Conference.
The TIAK Awards celebrate outstanding tourism marketing initiatives that strengthen the travel and tourism industry throughout Kansas. Each year, these awards honor the most innovative and impactful efforts among TIAK members, many of which serve as destination marketing organizations to Kansas communities.
Categories include: Community Awareness, Community Collaboration, Events, Online Marketing, Print Marketing and Visitor Guide.
“We are honored to receive this recognition from TIAK on behalf of the Salina community. SculptureTour Salina reflects the collective dedication of our community to celebrating the arts, attracting visitors and supporting our local economy. This award is truly a testament to the collaboration behind the project," said Visit Salina Director, Tiffany Benien
SculptureTour Salina (STS), now in its 15th year, is a rotating, public art program that engages residents and visitors alike. STS is a catalyst to bring people downtown to experience art in a fun way. This outdoor exhibit, free to everyone, is an annual juried exhibition open to all artists creating works suitable for outdoor display. Between 15 and 25 sculptures are selected annually and carefully sited in historic downtown Salina.
Sculptures remain installed for one year and the program is marketed to provide both viewing enjoyment to the community and visitors. Viewers can vote for their favorite sculpture by using the ballots found near most mid-block crosswalk structures in silver boxes on Santa Fe Avenue. The sculpture with the most votes receives The People’s Choice Award and is purchased by the City of Salina and will be located permanently in Salina for the public to enjoy.
“Since its inception, public and private purchases from SculptureTour have resulted in more than 45 sculptures on display throughout the city, making a positive statement to residents and visitors," said Salina Arts and Humanities Executive Director, Brad Anderson.
“The project’s success is rooted in strong partnerships among individual and business sponsors, artists across the nation, and many community organizations including Visit Salina, Salina Downtown, Salina Arts & Humanities, and city government. Its collaborative model has positioned Salina as a vibrant arts destination and continues to enhance local quality of life and tourism," said Mike Hoppock, City Commissioner and a Founding Member of SculptureTour Salina.
The TIAK Marketing Awards serve to inspire and support continued growth of tourism in Kansas by highlighting exemplary marketing programs that demonstrate creativity, measurable success and community value. Visit Salina extends congratulations to all 2025 TIAK award recipients for their contributions to promoting Kansas travel and tourism.
For more information about SculptureTour Salina, visit SculptureTourSalina.org or follow Visit Salina on social media.