ABOUT  PROGRAMMING  HOW TO HELP  BOARD

Empty Bowls Wichita began in 2014 through the leadership of ceramicist Brenda Lichman and Wichita State University Professor and Area Head of Ceramics Media, Ted Adler, both passionate about celebrating community service and the ceramic arts. Empty Bowls Wichita has successfully raised substantial funds to fight food insecurity within our community. Our mission extends beyond fundraising with a range of programs, exhibitions, and public events that foster community building. By engaging participants in the creation and donation of bowls, we strengthen the bonds within our community and promote a shared commitment to addressing hunger-related challenges through the arts.

BUILD-A-BOWL events begin every fall. Organizations and individuals interested in creating bowls to donate are invited to Wichita State University’s School of Art, Design, and Creative Industries for a Community Build-a-Bowl Workshop, which is free and open to the public. Empty Bowls Wichita also takes the show on the road visiting partner organizations like Wichita area schools, art centers, and other community groups. These visits are an opportunity to inform, educate, and engage community members of all ages through hands-on art experiences, clay workshops, and discussions regarding food insecurity. Bowls made during these events are then glazed, fired and featured as part of our culminating event, The Empty Bowls Wichita Chili Cook-Off.

Empty Bowls Wichita Chili Cook-Off guests pay $35 at the door and select one of hundreds of bowls made by artists and community members. They then take their new-found bowl and sample dozens of chilis and soups, donated by local restaurant chefs and food industry partners. Once guests have enjoyed sharing this experience together, the concept is…an “Empty Bowl” is brought home to remind us of all the “Empty Bowls” in our community. All proceeds benefit organizations in Wichita to help fight food insecurity.

For more information

Andover Edventure • Bricktown Brewery • Butler Community College • Central Standard Brewery • Chartwell's • Chef Shannon with the WSU Ceramics Guild • Chicken N Pickle • Firebirds Wood Fired Grill • First Mile Kitchen • Grace Hill Winery • Great Harvest Bread • Heartland Coca-Cola • Local Flavor • Noble Nine Bakery • Olive Tree Catering • Scotch and Sirloin • Tanya's Soup Kitchen • The Monarch • Traces of Flavor • Twelve Restaurant and Bar • Vora • Wichita Fellowship Club • Wichita Marriott • WCS Enviornmental Club

Open Streets ICT | Nomar

Sunday, May 3, 2026

Noon to 4:00 p.m.

Nomar Plaza

204 E 21st Street

Open Streets ICT | Douglas avenue/naftzger park

Date TBA

noon to 4:00 p.m.

Location TBA

Empty Bowls Wichita Community Build-a-bowl

Saturday, September 12, 2026

1:00 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. & 2:30 p.m. to 3:45 p.m.

Wichita State University, Henrion Hall 106 & 107

Registration opens soon!

Woofstock

Saturday, October 3, 2026

10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Sedgwick County Park

6501 W 21st Street N

Wichita Ceramic Regional Exhibition

October 2 to November 1, 2026

Opening Reception: First Friday ICT, October 2

Reuben Saunders Gallery

EMPTY BOWLS WICHITA: CHILI COOK-OFF

Saturday, October 18th, 2025

11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

$35 donation/$15 student donation 

Kids 5 and under = free kids bowl

Wichita State University/Woolsey Hall

  • Koch, Inc.
  • Emprise Bank
  • Greteman Group
  • Kansas Health Foundation
  • Thrive Restaurant Group
  • Fidelity Bank
  • NewMarket Square
  • Wichita Marriott Corporate Hills
  • KMUW
  • HumanKind Ministries
  • Pando Initiative through ICT Fridge Project at WPS
  • North High
  • West High
  • Southeast High
  • WSU Shocker Pantry
  • Ulrich Museum of Art
  • Reuben Saunders Gallery
  • WSU Ceramics Guild
  • WSU Art, Design & Creative Industries
  • Wichita State University
  • Wichita Public Schools
  • Evans Ceramic Supply
  • Mark Arts

Brenda Lichman

Founder and Executive Director

Brenda Lichman is a ceramicist, art educator and a community activist. In the Wichita area, she has taught ceramics at Wichita State University and Wichita East High School. Currently, she is working at the Ulrich Museum of Art as the Museum Education Curator. She is passionate about the ceramic arts and helping our community through Empty Bowls Wichita which she founded in 2014.

Favorite EB bowl A larger sized chili bowl with a gray/purple matte glaze with green dots created by her husband/partner, Ted Adler. (Ted creates 100 plus bowls every year.)

Favorite EB memory Seeing the line of guests excitedly waiting for Empty Bowls Chili Cook-Off to open its doors, such a wonderful gathering of our community for a great cause.

Favorite chili/soup Vegan sweet potato chili

Sonia greteman

Chair

mike

michaelis

Vice Chair

LAURA THOMPSON

Secretary

CALEB MALONEY

Treasurer

TIM

FINNERTY

Finance & Legal

anne buford

Matt Burchett

Shawn Chastain

Sarah Jane Crespo

RYAN DAWSON

Jana Erwin

Tim Finnerty

Sonia greteman

CALEB MALONEY

KENYA MCCONICO

Mike Michaelis

James Porter

Laura Thompson

Trish Vanosdel

Brenda Lichman, Ex-Officio

Creative Advocacy Utilize our creative talents to raise awareness, inspire action, and provide financial aid to those experiencing food insecurity.


Art Activism  Find joy teaching our curriculum to K-12 students and empower them to discover their potential as social entrepreneurs. 


Elevating Ceramics Invite, educate and inspire the community to discover, appreciate, and support the ceramic arts and artists.

Community Engagement Encourage hands-on participation through community bowl building, maximizing our collective gifts for the greater good.


Supportive Partnerships Bring passionate partners unique talents together, showing up for each other with open arms and big hearts.


Respectful Environment Operate in a genuine atmosphere of mutual respect, camaraderie, high energy, and fun.