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:

• Barry Anderson, Waiting Rooms, (KCity Post Kiosks)
• Ari Bonner, out of sight, but on my mind (Union Station Stop)
• Robert Castillo, Hold (Power & Light District Stop)
• Megan Ganey, So Long & Good Luck (River Market West Stop)
• Ada Koch & Glenn North, Hope & Gratitude (KC Streetcar Vehicle #801)
• Nazanin Amiri Meers, Light Breaks Where No Sun Shines (Kauffman Southbound Stop)
• William Plummer, Mol Mir, Steph Nowotarski and Jason Pollen, Planaria Passages (Metro Center Northbound Stop)
• Jessica Rogers, 36/36 Series, Quilt Patterns (Crossroads Southbound Stop)
• Hubbard Savage, My Dungeon Shook: A Portrait of James Baldwin (Library Southbound Stop)
• Will Vannerson, Shiny Piece of Giant Ginger or S.P.O.G.G. (City Market)

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

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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.

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:

• Barry Anderson, Waiting Rooms, (KCity Post Kiosks)
• Ari Bonner, out of sight, but on my mind (Union Station Stop)
• Robert Castillo, Hold (Power & Light District Stop)
• Megan Ganey, So Long & Good Luck (River Market West Stop)
• Ada Koch & Glenn North, Hope & Gratitude (KC Streetcar Vehicle)
• Nazanin Amiri Meers, Light Breaks Where No Sun Shines (Kauffman Southbound Stop)
• William Plummer, Mol Mir, Steph Nowotarski and Jason Pollen, Planaria Passages (Metro Center Northbound Stop)
• Jessica Rogers, 36/36 Series, Quilt Patterns (Crossroads Southbound Stop)
• Hubbard Savage, My Dungeon Shook: A Portrait of James Baldwin (Library Southbound Stop)
• Will Vannerson, Shiny Piece of Giant Ginger or S.P.O.G.G. (City Market)

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

 

 

 

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.