Lawton Reopens Renovated McMahon Auditorium During 125th Birthday
Lawton reopened the renovated McMahon Memorial Auditorium on Aug. 8 with a ribbon-cutting, a first performance and a free celebration of the city’s 125th birthday.
Community & Culture
Arts, culture, community organizations, civic events, libraries, museums, recreation, philanthropy, and public participation.
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Library of Congress Adds 25 Recordings to National Recording Registry
The 2026 National Recording Registry class includes recordings associated with Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, The Go-Go’s and the original Broadway cast of Chicago.
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AP-NORC poll finds sharp age divide among U.S. Jewish adults over Israel and Gaza
A national AP-NORC survey finds younger Jewish adults are less likely than older adults to view support for Israel as central to Jewish identity and more likely to say Israel committed genocide in Gaza.
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Palm Harbor recreation center project moves from approval to construction
Pinellas County and Palm Harbor officials broke ground April 17 on a 28,457-square-foot recreation center that will replace the Palm Harbor Senior Center and provide emergency shelter space.
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Hardin’s $2.75 Million Tourism Grant Advances Depot Renovation and Visitor-Center Plans
A five-year, $2.75 million Pilot Tourism Grant awarded to Hardin in 2025 will support renovation of the historic Hardin Train Depot as a visitor center connecting travelers with local businesses, attractions and cultural sites.
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UNESCO Opens Global Dialogue on Financing Culture on July 20, 2026
UNESCO has launched a global dialogue bringing development banks, regional organizations and cultural-policy bodies together to discuss sustainable financing for culture and creative sectors.
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Bureau County Fair announces 2026 Princeton lineup, truck-pull promoter
The Bureau County Fair will run Aug. 26-30, 2026, in Princeton, with Sawyer Brown, Lonestar and a Backroad Pullers-promoted truck and tractor pull.
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Smithsonian Reopens Castle and Arts and Industries Building for America’s 250th
The Smithsonian’s 2026 America at 250 program brings two historic National Mall buildings back into public use alongside exhibitions, conversations and cultural events across the United States and three U.S. territories.
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Minneapolis launches music events amid venue profitability concerns
Minneapolis announced summer and fall music events after a report found independent venues generated $2.2 billion in local economic impact.
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Partners announce Canal Street Artist Collective investment for downtown Wabash
Four Wabash-area organizations are partnering on a Canal Street Artist Collective project at 2 W. Canal St., supported in part by Indiana’s READI 2.0 Arts & Culture program.
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Brodhead receives $192,000 state grant for sensory-friendly splash pad
Brodhead has received a $192,000 Wisconsin grant for a planned splash pad designed with sensory-friendly features, barrier-free access and water-recirculation infrastructure.
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The Nox Entertainment Venue Breaks Ground in Mesa
The Nox, a new Mesa entertainment venue, broke ground Aug. 5, marking a construction milestone for the city’s business and development pipeline.
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Allen to Host Three Rounds of 2026 League of Legends Worlds
Allen’s Credit Union of Texas Event Center will host three stages of the 2026 League of Legends World Championship from Oct. 23 to Nov. 8.
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UNESCO Launches Emergency Preservation Project for Odesa Museum’s 160,000 Ukrainian Artefacts
UNESCO has launched a project to protect the Odesa Archaeological Museum’s collection after missile-strike shockwaves damaged the building in July 2023.
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Fort Bridger completes first paranormal investigation event
Fort Bridger State Historic Site hosted a three-day nighttime paranormal investigation from July 30 through Aug. 1 as a new tourism effort.
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NEA Names 71 Communities for 2026-27 Big Read Programs Tied to U.S. 250th Anniversary
The National Endowment for the Arts and Arts Midwest awarded $1.09 million in grants to 71 nonprofit organizations in 47 states and Puerto Rico for literary and creative programs during the nation’s 250th-anniversary year.
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Overland Park committee backs regional-pool model in 7-5 vote
Overland Park’s council committee recommended regional pools over two additional community pools, leaving the full City Council to decide the parks plan this fall.
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Monongahela’s first Shop Through the Arts festival brings artists and downtown businesses together
Monongahela Main Street’s first Shop Through the Arts festival paired regional artists with participating downtown businesses along Main Street on Aug. 1.
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Rolla voters approve quarter-cent sales tax for Centre recreation improvements
Rolla voters approved Proposition S with 54% of the vote, authorizing a one-quarter-of-one-percent city sales tax for operations and improvements at The Centre.
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Escondido Library Returns to Renovated Kalmia Street Home
The Escondido Public Library has returned to 239 S. Kalmia Street after renovations, with tours, a mural dedication and community ceremony.
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Bezos Earth Fund Commits $10 Million to Indianapolis Park
Indy Parks says the Bezos Earth Fund will provide $10 million to transform Reverend Mozel Sanders Park as part of Indianapolis’ 2026 park improvements.
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Pew survey finds 28% of U.S. adults are religiously unaffiliated as 61% say religion is losing public influence
A new Pew Research Center affiliation chart finds that 28% of U.S. adults identify as religiously unaffiliated, while a separate survey shows 61% believe religion is losing influence in American life.