For nearly thirty years, the Red Barn Studio Museum has welcomed visitors into Lester Raymer’s home and studio, fulfilling our mission to preserve and promote the work and memory of Lester Raymer and provide public opportunities for artistic and cultural enrichment.
Thanks to your support, the Red Barn has grown well beyond preserving Lester’s artwork.
Over the years, your support has helped:
- Create the 1st Artist-in-Residence (AIR) program in Kansas and grow the program from welcoming just a few regional artists each year to hosting more than a dozen artists annually from Kansas, across the United States, and around the world.
- Host the Christmas Artist Studio Open House for more than 22 years.
- Expand arts programming through events like Play Music on the Porch Day, poetry readings and workshops, AIR receptions and workshops, and strengthening the Hyllningsfest and Midsummer Arts & Crafts Markets.
- Collaborate with organizations throughout Lindsborg to strengthen exhibitions, educational programming, research, and community events.
- Keep Lester Raymer’s artwork and story alive through exhibitions, guided tours, educational programs and outreach, and the Raymer Society Consignment Art Auctions, which continue to send artwork from Kansas to collectors across the country.
Everything we do begins with the place Lester created and called home. Every room, every outbuilding, and every corner of the property tells part of Lester’s story. Caring for this special place is one of the greatest responsibilities we have.
Like any historic property, the Red Barn requires ongoing care. Several important projects have reached the point where they can no longer be postponed. Addressing them now will help protect the buildings, preserve Lester’s legacy, and ensure the museum continues to welcome visitors and Artists-in-Residence for years to come.
The Board of Directors has approved a $100,000 Red Barn Restoration Project to preserve the museum and surrounding buildings. The Red Barn has already committed $50,000 toward these improvements, and we are asking our members and friends to help us raise the remaining $50,000 to $60,000 needed to complete the work.
Our current priorities include:
Infrastructure
- Roof replacement on all museum buildings – $40,000
- Sewer line replacement serving the Artist-in-Residence house – $6,000
- New A/C unit serving the Red Barn Studio Museum building – $20,000
- Electrical repairs on the interior and exterior of museum buildings – $6,000
Property restoration
- Exterior painting and repairs on all museum buildings – $11,000
- Interior painting and repairs within the Red Barn Studio Museum – $6,000
These projects may not be glamorous, but they are essential. Throughout the coming year, the Board and staff will also be planning a variety of fundraising opportunities to help support this effort. We look forward to sharing more information and inviting you to participate as those plans develop.
If you are able, I hope you will consider making a gift to the Red Barn Restoration Project. Every contribution, no matter the size, will help us care for this remarkable place and preserve it for those who will discover Lester Raymer in the years ahead.
Donations may be made by check, cash, or through our online giving page. If you have any questions or would like to discuss other ways to support the project, please don’t hesitate to contact me by phone at 785-227-2217 or by email at raymer@redbarnstudio.org.
On behalf of our Board of Directors, thank you for your continued support of the Red Barn Studio Museum. We are grateful for your belief in our mission and for helping us preserve the place Lester called home.
With gratitude,
Emily Howe
Director
Red Barn Studio Museum