June 17, 2026
Courtesy story submitted
Photos by Joe Vinduska
Barton Community College’s Shafer Gallery is proud to announce its participation in the 2026 Kansas Tourism Sunflower Summer program.
Shafer Gallery, located in the Fine Arts Building on Barton’s Great Bend campus, provides free access to rotating exhibits, educational opportunities, and engaging arts experiences for the campus and surrounding communities.
The Sunflower Summer program is a benefit for Kansas families with school-aged children, pre-K through grade 12, to encourage them to explore and fall in love with Kansas. The program is designed to give affordable access to tourism attractions across the state and support the Kansas tourism economy.
Shafer Gallery Director Jenna Harbaugh said the gallery is excited to welcome families through the program.
“We are thrilled to be a venue for the 2026 Kansas Sunflower Summer program,” she said. “There’s something special about seeing kids explore, learn, and experience art right here at Barton. This program makes it easy for families to create meaningful memories together, and we’re proud to be one of the destinations that help showcase the best of Kansas.”
Eligible Kansas families can download the Sunflower Summer app to claim tickets to participating venues. One adult ticket is eligible for free admission when accompanied by eligible students. Tickets are redeemed at participating venues upon arrival. Each user can only use tickets once per venue during the 2026 season. The 2026 Sunflower Summer season will run from July 9 to Aug. 2.
Kansas Tourism, a division of the Kansas Department of Commerce, aims to inspire travel to and throughout Kansas to maximize the positive impacts that tourism has on the state and local communities.
Kansas Tourism Director Bridgette Jobe said the Shafer Gallery is an important part of the program.
“Kansas Tourism is excited to have Shafer Gallery as a part of the Sunflower Summer program,” she said. “This program is an amazing benefit for the residents of Kansas, and we are looking forward to growing the program in the 2026 season. Shafer Gallery is an important part of making this the best season yet for the program.”
For more information about Shafer Gallery, visit gallery.bartonccc.edu. To discover more about the Sunflower Summer program, visit SunflowerSummer.org.