PBS Kansas Channel 8 to Host Public Open House

PBS Kansas Channel 8 to Host Public Open House on June 24 and Family Open House on June 25

WICHITA, Kan. — PBS Kansas Channel 8 has completed the move to its $4.5 million new, 31,000 square-foot headquarters at 8710 E. 32^nd St. N., formerly Meritrust Credit Union headquarters. This new building is four times as large as PBS Kansas’ former location, and includes the spacious Alvin & RosaLee Sarachek Studio, the Fidelity Bank Foundation Studio and the Sierra P. Scott Green Room. The move is the culmination of 10 years of operation downtown (3^rd & Broadway), and the past 42 years in the north end of Wichita (320 W. 21^st St. N.).

The PUBLIC OPEN HOUSE is on Friday, June 24 from 3 to 7 p.m. During this open house, the public will be treated to tours of the entire building and light refreshments. The public will see where the nine local shows are produced and where our local documentaries are created.  

“I’m very proud of the decisions of the PBS Kansas Board of Trustees in obtaining this new building. It will make a difference for the community. I am also proud of the champion effort our entire staff is putting forth toward the move. It isn’t easy to move a television station,” says Victor Hogstrom, President & CEO.

The FAMILY DAY OPEN HOUSE is on Saturday, June 25 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Visitors this day will experience the one-of-a-kind, FREE, PBS Kansas Cochener-Garvey Children’s Education & Discovery Center, the Bonavia Foundation PBS Kansas Museum and the entire facility. The first 300 children to attend Saturday’s open house will receive a “Think Like Ben Franklin Science-To-Go Kit” and will have a chance to meet the Daniel Tiger and Elmo characters. The Children’s Education Center gives children the tools and technology to play while learning and learn while playing.

Inside the Children’s Education Center families can take part in science experiments; build a Make-a-Fort structure; create a binary code keychain; interact with Makey Makey invention kits with experts from NetApp; see how a 3D printer works; be part of story time; and much more! Outside, kids can check out a Cornejo dump truck and take photos in front of the Evergy Spread Good Energy Trailer.

The new Education Center features Discovery Stations from Conco Construction, Cornejo, Kansas Strong, KSN Weather, and Sedgwick County Farm Bureau Agricultural Association, along with a PBS Video Creation Station and Reading & Media Center. More Discovery Stations will be added in the future.

“PBS Kansas believes the world is full of possibilities and so is every child. The Children’s Education Center will help children develop skills in science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM), so they can discover their own possibilities,” says Hogstrom. “PBS Kansas is very proud to offer its Children’s Education Center and the PBS Kansas Museum to the community. No other PBS station in the United States can point to similar educational services. Our community support makes our new building and our Children’s Education Center, the museum, the new studios and other spaces possible,” he concluded.

 Please note: The Children’s Education Center is targeted at children 2 to 10 years old. The whole family will enjoy this FREE center that will be open to the public 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays, starting June 27, 2022.

THANK YOU

PBS Kansas thanks these generous donors who made the new PBS Kansas building possible: Alvin & RosaLee Sarachek; Sunderland Foundation; Dwane L. & Velma Lunt Wallace Charitable Foundation; Emily Bonavia; Bruce G. Cochener Foundation; Fidelity Bank Foundation; Sedgwick County; Bonavia Foundation; Anita L. Jones; A & H Electric, Inc.; Berry Family Foundation; The Docking Group/RWBaird PWM; The family of Joyce (Egan) Markley; James H. & Eleanor M. Welch; James H. Welch IV; Richard & Margaret Wieland; Lynn & Don Stephan; Larry & Anna Fralick; The James Garvey Family Charitable Trust; Lamar & Cheryle Henderson; The family of F. David Seaton; TZ Productions; Father Tom Welk; The family of William J. Wesermann; Phil & Lori Richardson; H. Edward & Marla Flentje; Mid-States Fitness Equipment; The Spice Merchant; Howard Charles Hutchison, Sr. & Jr.; Commerce Bancshares Foundation; Sierra P. Scott & Harrison Schenk; A to Z Theatrical Supply & Service; Randy & Katherine Ambrose; Marcia & Ted D. Ayres; Larry Hatteberg; Dr. William & Marlene Hayes; Ray & Wilma McChristian; Sue Najim; Ron & Renae Ryan, Susan Peters; and a host of other chartered building contributors.

PBS KANSAS CHANNEL 8

PBS Kansas Channel 8 is our community-owned public media organization whose mission is to educate, engage, entertain and enrich Kansans. PBS Kansas Channel 8’s goal is to be a primary influence for a thriving, engaged community. Learn more atkpts.org.