Do you miss attending performances, visiting art galleries, and other cultural activities? Then check out ArtsKCgo.com – you will find an extensive list of new virtual events to experience and enjoy.

The outbreak of COVID-19 is having a devastating economic impact on the arts and culture industry in our region. Individual artists are now without work, and arts organizations have had to cancel performances and events, including current First Friday exhibitions. This created a loss of revenue for our sector that is unprecedented in modern times.

For more information about how you can play a role in the recovery of our arts community, please visit ArtsKC.org.

Earlier this month, Mayor Lucas submitted his proposed budget for the City of Kansas City, Missouri.  Click here to read the transmittal letter which summarizes the budget and click here to find the entire $1.73 billion budget. The budget provides funding for increases to Public Safety for more police officers, increases to Public Works for street repairs, increases to Neighborhood and Housing Services for trash collection and recycling, and also provides $4.8 million for free transit. This laudable effort focuses on improving basic services and deferred maintenance.

Unfortunately, the proposed budget also recommends defunding the Office of Culture & Creative Services, decreasing funding for the Film Office and local film incentives, decreasing funding for ArtsTech, decreasing funding for the Neighborhood Tourism Development Fund which supports many cultural activities and decreasing funding for other small business and innovation efforts.

In 2013, the City adopted the citizen-led Arts Convergence Plan, the first cultural master plan for our city which also established the Office of Culture and Creative Services.  This plan was the result of a huge community process and should not be disregarded.  Additionally, if the Office of Culture and Creative Services is dismantled, we will fall behind our peer cities who all have similar offices that provide benefits to their citizens.

The Art in the Loop Foundation supports retaining Kansas City’s Office of Culture and Creative Services and KC Film Office’s Incentive program.  These programs ensure arts, culture and creativity have a voice across City Departments and have reaped dividends for the citizens and businesses of Kansas City.  According to ArtsKC’s recent analysis:

A dedicated office of culture and creative services inspires and drives:

• $250 million in arts and culture economic impact in KCMO
• $20 million in direct government revenue for the City of Kansas City, MO
• 8,000 jobs in the City of Kansas City, MO

The KC Film Office’s incentive program has:

• Given project assistance to more than 1,000 projects, with an economic impact of $50 million.
• Incentivized film projects to hire locally, creating thousands of job opportunities in 6 years.
• Given bonuses to projects that feature local artists or organizations—further boosting our area.

We stand with our local artists and creatives in requesting Kansas City’s Mayor and City Council to continue investment in these programs.  Click here for additional information: KCMO Budget Advocacy Packet.

There is still time to show your support for the arts.  The City has two more budget hearings scheduled – these meetings allow time for citizens to share their concerns:

• Saturday, February 29, 9-11 a.m., Southeast Community Center
• Wednesday, March 3, 11:30 a.m. -1:30 p.m., KCMO Health Department

We encourage you to attend these meetings and let your voice be heard.

 

 

 

Interested in learning more about the 2020 Art in the Loop Call for Artists?  Join us at one of the following information session to learn more about the process:

Tuesday, February 11
5:30-7:30 p.m.
Capsule
1664 Broadway
Click here to RSVP

Wednesday, February 12
12 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
KC Streetcar – “Kite” Singleton Yard
600 East 3rd Street
(This session will include a brief tour and is limited to 25)
Click here to RSVP

The Art in the Loop Foundation (AILF) is seeking artists to engage the community through an exhibition of public artwork and performances along the KC Streetcar route in Downtown Kansas City from May 1 through September 30, 2020.  Artists using all media are encouraged to apply.

This year artists may submit proposals for one of three categories, KC Streetcar Stop Call, Open Call Along the KC Streetcar Route, or Wrap a Streetcar + Big Idea Call. Artists are encouraged to read the new call for artists which can be found at https://www.artintheloop.com/opportunities/2020-call-for-artists/

The application requires a written description of your proposal, budget and a short narrative about your goals for public engagement.  The deadline for submissions is Monday, February 17, 11:59 CST.  Applications must be made online via the application portal.

For information about eligibility, selection process, evaluation criteria and important dates, review the application guidelines.

Applicants are encouraged to learn about artist projects from previous years.  Annual catalogs from past years programs can be found here.

Questions may be directed to Art in the Loop Art Director, Bo Hubbard, bhubbard@kcai.edu, or Program Director, Ann Holliday, ann@downtownkc.org.

 

Quality studio spaces are disappearing from prime areas in Kansas City. Artists and their art have enhanced and rejuvenated areas, communities, and businesses only to have their studio spaces face increased rents, or have their buildings re-purposed to attract a different clientele.

Nationally businesses, communities, and patrons are hosting art studios, residencies, galleries, and pop-up performances to help support artists. What can we do in Kansas City to support our artists?

If you’re a business owner, a patron of the arts, or an artist, you won’t want to miss the conversation. Join us Thursday, January 16 at 21C Museum Hotel.

Panelists:

• Suzie Aron
• Philip Botana
• Dylan Mortimer
• Rachelle Gardner-Roe
• Moderator, Simon Kuo

Reservations required.  Click here to register.

Wednesday, November 6, 2019
6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Kansas City Public Library Central Library
14 West 10th Street

Celebrate what made the 2019 Art in the Loop Project: Make/Believe great. The curated outdoor exhibition, staged in partnership with the City of Kansas City, Missouri, and KC Streetcar, wraps up with a reception, illustrated review, and reflection on this year’s artwork and performances.

Art in the Loop organizers and participants look back on the artistic works and performances featured from May to September. A presentation highlights all the offerings, and selected artists present their works and discuss their experiences. Click here for more information about the 2019 Art in the Loop Project and its artists.

The celebration will include a performance by Ayllu, a local band mixing both traditional and contemporary instruments to create music with traditional Latin references as well as rock, folk and contemporary sounds.

Art in the Loop is designed to make cultural experiences available to downtown residents, visitors, and workers. The closing event is co-presented by Downtown Council, the City of Kansas City, and the Kansas City Art Institute.

 

Click here to RSVP.

The culmination of the geolocated virtual reality performance, public², is soon approaching. The performance pieces that have insofar only been observed through the captivating VR technology at the Library NB, River Market West, and Union Station Streetcar Stops is emerging out of its digital environment and into the real world.

The final public² performance will affirm the thesis of the project. Jane Gotch views public art acts as a microscope, directing attention towards overlooked and mundane locales within a city. Through public performance, artists generate a conceptual feedback loop, documenting and describing the environment’s history, architectural features, and inhabitants while simultaneously becoming new pieces of history and architecture.

The history of the virtual performances will be overlaid with a physical, tactile experience, a performance structured on a familiar archeology but bringing something new and transient.

public²  reimagines what “public space” is, how it is created, and how it is accessed within a city. What “public space” means, not as a physical area but a cultural definition, will be examined in this enthralling performance.

This event will take place on Saturday, August 24 at 6:15 p.m. Union Station, next to the Union Station Streetcar Stop.

Click here to add this event to your calendar

For more information about all the other exciting events this summer, be sure to visit us at artintheloop.com