2021 Art in the Loop call for Performers, Musicians, & Dancers

The Art in the Loop Foundation (AILF) is in search of performing artists to bring their creativity to Downtown Kansas City for the 2021 Art in the Loop: Streetcar Summer Performance Series.

Through a competitive, open-call process, AILF selects local artists to perform live music, performance, and other site-specific work along and near the KC Streetcar route in Downtown Kansas City. Selected artists will perform either on one of eight Thursday afternoons (Art in the Loop: Streetcar Summer Performance Series) or for one of two evening dance performances in partnership with Making Moves. Artists will receive a small stipend for their work.

2021 Theme/Prompt: Resilient
What does an inclusive, equitable, accessible, and vibrant Downtown Kansas City look like? What is needed in order for our city to remain resilient – particularly within this present moment? For the 2021 Art in the Loop Project, we are looking for artists to respond to these questions and to explore their vision of resiliency. Proposed projects should reflect these questions and ideas in ways that engage and stimulate Kansas City audiences.

Eligibility:
Professional artists, musicians, spoken-word artists, dance artists, and other performers, at least 18 years of age residing within 50 miles of Kansas City are eligible.

Applications are due June 21, 2021.  Click here to learn more and apply!

Contact Art Director, Kyle Mullins, kylewmullins@gmail.com, or Program Director, Ann Holliday, ann@downtownkc.org with any questions.

Art in the Loop Mission:
The mission of the Art in the Loop Foundation (AILF) is to contribute to the visual identity, enrichment, and revitalization of Downtown Kansas City, create new opportunities for artistic development, and expand public interaction with new art of excellence. AILF values an equitable, diverse, and inclusive art community.

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2021 Art in the Loop – Call for Visual Artists Due 5/12 – Info Session Recording

Apply now for the 2021 Art in the Loop Project: Resilient!  Applications are due May 12.  Watch this recording of the information session held earlier this week and then apply at www.artintheloop.com!

Read the full call for artists at https://www.artintheloop.com/opportunities/

The application requires a written description of your proposal and a short narrative about your goals for public engagement. Stipends will range from $500-$2,500 depending on the category. The deadline for submissions is Wednesday, May 12, 11:59 CST. Applications must be made online via the application portal.

Questions may be directed to Art in the Loop Art Director, Kyle Mullins, kylewmullins@gmail.com, or Program Director, Ann Holliday, ann@downtownkc.org.

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Art in the Loop Project: Resilient – Call for Visual Artists Open thru May 12

The Art in the Loop Foundation (AILF) is seeking visual artists to engage the community through an exhibition of public artwork along the KC Streetcar route in Downtown Kansas City from May 31 through October 31, 2021. This is our 8th annual summer public art program. Through a competitive, open-call process, AILF selects local artists to create temporary, site-specific work along and near the KC Streetcar route in Downtown Kansas City. Your artwork will be viewed by thousands of KC Streetcar riders and Downtowners daily! Selected artists will receive funds and project support to bring their artwork alive for a 5-month outdoor program.

The 2021 theme/prompt is “Resilient” – What does an inclusive, equitable, accessible, and vibrant Downtown Kansas City look like? What is needed in order for our city to remain resilient – particularly within this present moment? For the 2021 Art in the Loop Project, we are looking for artists to respond to these questions and to explore their vision of resiliency. Proposed projects should reflect these questions and ideas in ways that engage and stimulate Kansas City audiences through public art installations.

This year artists may submit proposals in four categories, KC Streetcar Wrap, ARTwall (13th & Grand), KC Streetcar Stop and KC Streetcar Stop/816 Day. Read the full call for artists at https://www.artintheloop.com/opportunities/

The application requires a written description of your proposal and a short narrative about your goals for public engagement. Stipends will range from $500-$2,500 depending on the category. The deadline for submissions is Wednesday, May 12, 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 also encouraged to learn about artist projects from previous years. Annual catalogs from past years programs can be found here.

Performance artists and musicians, stay tuned for our second call for artists in which we will have opportunities for performances along the KC Streetcar route and more. The performance based call will be released in May.

Questions may be directed to Art in the Loop Art Director, Kyle Mullins, kylewmullins@gmail.com, or Program Director, Ann Holliday, ann@downtownkc.org.

Art in the Loop Mission:
The mission of the Art in the Loop Foundation (AILF) is to contribute to the visual identity, enrichment, and revitalization of Downtown Kansas City, create new opportunities for artistic development, and expand public interaction with new art of excellence. AILF values an equitable, diverse, and inclusive art community.

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KC Streetcar Celebrates Black History Month with Local Artists

Artwork by JT Daniels

Join KC Streetcar’s Third Annual Black History Month celebration on Friday, February 26 at 7:00 p.m. for Storytelling on the Streetcar: Celebrating Black Culture. This virtual event is a celebration of Kansas City’s black culture through dance, poetry, art, and music and will premiere on KC Streetcar’s YouTube page and Facebook page.

Storytelling on the Streetcar: Celebrating Black Culture is a community celebration hosted by the KC Streetcar Authority and sponsored by BMG Advisors, Port KC, and Union Station.

Participating artists, dancers, and musicians include:

Special guests include Mayor Quinton Lucas, Crissy Dastrup (Co-Founder Troost Market Collective), Kemet Coleman (Community Leader + Musician), Justice Horn (Community Activist), LaVail Harrington (KC Streetcar Operator), and Kiona Sinks (Community Activist + Social Innovator). Storytelling on the Streetcar artwork created by Kansas City artist JT Daniels and video created by Estuardo Garcia Media.

“The KC Streetcar is more than just connecting people to destinations, it’s also about connecting people to each other, experiences and opportunities. ‘Storytelling on the Streetcar: Celebrating Black Culture’ attempts to connect our riders and Kansas Citians to the rich and diverse cultures that make our city so wonderful,” said Donna Mandelbaum, communications director, KC Streetcar Authority.

Tune in on Friday, February 26, at 7:00 p.m. for Storytelling on the Streetcar: Celebrating Black Culture on KC Streetcar’s YouTube page and Facebook page.

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Art in the Loop Wants to Hear From You!

It’s a new year and time for a fresh start! 2020 was a challenging year for artists and arts organizations.  Art in the Loop included.  While we were able to showcase the work of local artists along the KC Streetcar route through our 2020 Art in the Loop Project, we had to cut the music and performance aspects of the project due to COVID-19 requirements and related funding decreases.

But now it’s 2021, and the Art in the Loop Foundation is taking stock of our strengths and weaknesses, our programming, and our partners. We’re taking a fresh look at how we fit into the cultural arts ecosystem of Kansas City and we would like to know your thoughts.

Please take some time to complete the questionnaire at this link or see below.  It should take 10-15 minutes to complete.

We will use the results to help guide the next 5-years of Art in the Loop programming.

Questions or comments? Please contact Ann Holliday, program director, ann@downtownkc.org.

 

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Art in the Loop Highlighted at KC Artists Coalition’s 2020 Coalesce Event

So Long & Good Luck at River Market West KC Streetcar Stop and 2020 Coalesce dress both by Megan Ganey

 

On November 7, 2020, the Kansas City Artists Coalition held their second Coalesce: The Art of Couture event – it was a glorious evening celebrating the fusion of art and fashion. Styled by Wlaa Style, Coalesce was an immersive art experience where fashion and fine art came together in a breathtaking collaboration celebrating fine art on the runway.

Eight local Kansas City artists transformed gowns into walking canvasses of fine art with a virtual experience unlike any other and 5 of those artists were 2020 Art in the Loop artists. Take a look at their Art in the Loop installations and dresses below!

KC Streetcar provides the canvas for Art in the Loop each year, allowing local artists to display their work at KC Streetcar stops and even onboard vehicles.  This is an annual program that usually lasts through the summer. We are so grateful that KC Streetcar agreed to leave the artwork in place for an extended period so head Downtown and use this map to locate the artwork! Visit artintheloop.com for more information about the artwork and artists.

Hold installed at the Power & Light District NB KC Streetcar Stop with dress both by Robert Castillo.

36/36 Series, Quilt Paintings and dress by Jessica Rogers at Crossroads SB KC Streetcar Stop.

So Long & Good Luck and dress by Megan Ganey, River Market West KC Streetcar Stop.

Light Breaks Where No Sun Shines and dress by Nazanin Amiri Meers, Kauffman Center SB KC Streetcar Stop

Hope & Gratitude and dress by Ada Koch, on KC Streetcar vehicle.

Detail of dress by Ada Koch with excerpts from Glenn North’s poem “Standing Strong” that was commissioned for the Art in the Loop Project.

All photographs by Margaret Norcross Photography.

 

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Art in the Loop Celebrates Kick-Off Online!

Yesterday, Art in the Loop kicked off its 2020 exhibition in Downtown Kansas City with an online event.

Every artist in this year’s program provided a two-minute video about their artwork and what it means to them to be part of this amazing program. Additionally, there are interviews with artistic director, Bo Hubbard; director, Ann Holliday; and Donna Mandelbaum, KC Streetcar Communications Director. The kick-off video runs a bit over 40 mins but it is well worth the watch to better understand what this year’s program is all about and how it is making an impact on local artists and Kansas City.
More so than ever, Art is needed.

 

The 2020 Art in the Loop Project is made possible through the generous support of the KC Streetcar Authority; the City of Kansas City, Missouri; the Missouri Arts Council; Arts KC;  and private contributions. To make a contribution visit http://artintheloop.com/support or contact ann@downtownkc.org.

Project partners include the Downtown Council, Downtown Community Improvement Districts, the KC Streetcar, Kansas City Public Library, Kansas City Art Institute, Union Station, the City Market, and the National WWI Museum and Memorial.

For more information about the project and the artists, visit www.artintheloop.com, www.facebook.com/artintheloop, or twitter.com/ArtintheLoop.

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2020 Art in the Loop Self-Guided Tour

The 2020 Art in the Loop map is now available! Take a self guided tour of 10 artworks by local Kansas City artists using the map below as your guide. This is an opportunity to experience new artwork at a time when many galleries and museums remain closed. You can take KC Streetcar and walk, grab some curbside snacks or pop in a restaurant while your at it. This is a free, family friendly experience.

Each artwork includes a title sign providing additional information. You can also find more information about the artists on our website artintheloop.com.

You can also learn more about the program and hear from each individual artist by attending our virtual kick-off event on Wednesday, July 8 at 5:30. Register and learn more at: https://2020artintheloop.eventbrite.com

 

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2020 Art in the Loop Kick Off Event, Wed., July 8, 5:30

Join us for the 2020 Art in the Loop Kick-Off event on Wednesday, July 8, from 5:30 to 6:30.  The event will take place online as a YouTube premiere with live chat enabled.  During the event, the 10 participating artists and artist teams will share insights about their art in a series of 2-minute videos interspersed with updates about the program. We are looking forward to this opportunity to celebrate these artists and the impact of public art on Kansas City.

Register at https://2020artintheloop.eventbrite.com 

Click here for the YouTube Premiere Channel

The 2020 Art in the Loop Project is a curated outdoor exhibition of temporary artworks presented in partnership with the KC Streetcar Authority.  The following artists’ works will be displayed at streetcar stops, along the streetcar route and wrapping a streetcar vehicle from September:

Contact Ann Holliday, Art in the Loop Director with any questions about the event.

The 2020 Art in the Loop Project is made possible through the generous support of the KC Streetcar Authority; the City of Kansas City, Missouri; the Missouri Arts Council; Arts KC;  and private contributions. 

Project partners include the Downtown Council, Downtown Community Improvement Districts, the KC Streetcar, Kansas City Public Library, Kansas City Art Institute, Union Station, the City Market, and the National WWI Museum and Memorial.

For more information about the project and the artists, visit www.artintheloop.com, www.facebook.com/artintheloop, or twitter.com/ArtintheLoop.

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Johnson County Call for Artists: Resilience, Reflection, Rebuilding

The Arts Council of Johnson County is working on a collaborative art exhibition with the Johnson County Arts & Heritage Center.  Their goal is for the show to feature a variety of diverse experiences, perspectives and voices from our community.

About the Exhibition:
The Arts Council of Johnson County, Johnson County Museum and Johnson County Arts & Heritage Center announce a call for entry for our collaborative exhibition:  Resilience, Reflection, Rebuilding: Artists Respond to Covid-19

The arts have the remarkable ability to create a sense of togetherness, belonging, and community. They can help decrease stress, loneliness, and anxiety. They can provide opportunities to reflect, process experiences and feelings, imagine what our future might look like, and connect us through our common humanity.

In this exhibit, local artists will be asked to create a reflection of their experiences and feelings during the COVID-19 pandemic and to consider the pandemic as a catalyst toward change. This show will complement the temporary exhibit, Rising to the Challenge: Suburban Strength in Difficult Times, presented by the Johnson County Museum.

Artwork voted on by the public and approved by the Johnson County Museum Collections Committee will become part of the Johnson County Museum’s permanent collection as part of its Collecting COVID-19 initiative. The winning artist(s) will be awarded a financial prize. (Note: Artists have the option to opt-out of the competition.)

Deadline: Submissions are due July 15th.
Eligibility: Artists must have a connection to Johnson County: Current or Former Johnson County Residence, Attend School in Johnson County, Work in Johnson County, etc. Include this information in the submission. There is no entry fee.

Click here to view the full call. 

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2020 Art in the Loop Artists Announced

The Art in the Loop Foundation is pleased to announce the artists who were selected for the 2020 Art in the Loop Project. This year marks the seventh for the Art in the Loop Project and includes artwork based on photography, painting, digital animation, sculpture, and more.

The 2020 Art in the Loop Project is a curated outdoor exhibition of temporary artworks presented in partnership with the KC Streetcar Authority.  The following artists’ works will be displayed at streetcar stops, along the streetcar route and wrapping a streetcar vehicle from May through September.

“This year we took away the project theme to allow artists greater freedom. We are thrilled to present artwork representing a variety of mediums, themes and aesthetics” said Bo Hubbard, art director for Art in the Loop.   “You will see a playful reinvention of ginger as a giant sculpture and imagined landscapes presented via digital animation.”

“There is art that inspires and brings communities together, art focused on color and light filtering and artwork examining race and literature. There is art inspired by abstract quilt patterns, art raising awareness about planaria and their role in scientific advances, art about family history, virtual connections and human connections across social and political divides.” (Click on the names of the artists for more information and concept images.)

Artist and Art Installations:

Artists are selected for the annual program through an online application process open to artists in the Kansas City metropolitan area. A selection panel consisting of local artists, curators, educators, and community members reviewed over 70 applications and selected 10 artists teams for the first phase of the 2020 Art in the Loop Project.

Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the three performance-based works selected by the panel will be announced in a second phase.  The pandemic has impacted our ability to produce place-based performance art; it has also resulted in a decrease in funding from government-related sources. The team is working to raise enough funds via private donations and corporate contributions to announce a second phase of Art in the Loop to include performance-based work and the Streetcar Summer Sounds music series later this summer.  Click here to learn more about how you can support Art in the Loop or make a donation.

The pandemic has also caused us to postpone our Kick-Off event which was originally planned for June 3. The event will be rescheduled and reimagined to coincide with Artist Walks and performances later in the summer. Information will be posted on our website and social media.

The 2020 Art in the Loop Project is provided artistic guidance by Bo Hubbard, who is serving in his second year as art director for the organization.  Hubbard is a local artist and organizer and a second-year resident at the Charlotte Street Foundation (CSF) and a graduate of the Kansas City Art Institute’s (KCAI) Painting Department where he currently works as an admissions counselor. Hubbard’s solo studio practice has recently been spent creating rugs and discovering the process of machine tufting. With the rugs, he is investigating color, shape, and composition to create surreal, abstract landscapes.

The 2020 Art in the Loop Project is made possible through the generous support of the KC Streetcar Authority; the City of Kansas City, Missouri; the Missouri Arts Council; ArtsKC;  and private contributions. This project is also supported in part by the City of Kansas City, Missouri Neighborhood Tourist Development Fund.

Project partners include the Downtown Council, Downtown Community Improvement Districts, the KC Streetcar, Kansas City Public Library, Kansas City Art Institute, Union Station, the City Market, and the National WWI Museum and Memorial.

For more information about the project and the artists, visit www.artintheloop.com, www.facebook.com/artintheloop, instagram.com/artintheloop or twitter.com/ArtintheLoop.

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Contacts:

Art in the Loop
Ann Holliday, Program Director, ann@downtownkc.org, (c) 816-718-1355

Bo Hubbard, Art Director, bhubbard@kcai.edu

KC Streetcar

Donna Mandelbaum, Communications Director, dmandelbaum@kcstreetcar.org,  816-877-3219

out of sight, but out on my mind by Ari Bonner.

So Long and Good Luck, Megan Ganey

 

Hope & Gratitude by Ada Koch. Partial concept image provided by the artist

 

Waiting Rooms by Barry Anderson, Image from animation in development provided by the artist.

 

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City Seeks Input for Art & Culture at KCI Airport

The City of Kansas City, Missouri is seeking input from the community in an effort to create aw vision for public art at the new KCI Airport terminal and parking garage. In lieu of the in-person meetings, the City has provided an online presentation and survey.

Please take this opportunity to learn more about the opportunity and share opinions. Public comments and feedback can be submitted via the survey link at the end of the presentation. The survey will be available online through April 20, 2020.

CLICK HERE TO PARTICIPATE

For more information please visit buildkci.com/art.

For additional feedback or questions, email james.martin@kcmo.org or artsbuildkci@gmail.com.

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