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Up To Date

Kansas City: City Of Fountains...That Require Maintenance

It's a popular saying in our town that only Rome has more public fountains than Kansas City.

And even if that's a difficult figure to document, it's not hard to appreciate the beauty and sense of calm that art surrounded by flowing water provides.

Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art conservator Paul Benson – who has often worked as a consultant in preserving and maintaining these watery jewels, and Kansas City Parks & Recreation archivist Ann McFerrin – join host Steve Kraske on Tuesday's Up to Date to share the stories behind some of our town’s most popular fountains and discuss what it takes to preserve them as works of art.

Later in the conversation, Kansas City Symphony executive director Frank Byrne talks about the orchestra's City of Fountains Celebration, which has commissioned several new works inspired by the city’s fountains. During the program an ensemble of Symphony musicians will perform part of Daniel Kellogg’s Water Music, which premieres on March 30-April 1.

Hear More: Paul Benson will talk about Kansas City's fountains and preservation this Thursday March 29th at 6:30 at the Kansas City Library Plaza branch. A 6 p.m. reception precedes the event. Click here for more information.

Stephen Steigman is director of Classical KC. You can email him at <a href="mailto:Stephen.Steigman@classicalkc.org">Stephen.Steigman@classicalkc.org</a>.
When I host Up To Date each morning at 9, my aim is to engage the community in conversations about the Kansas City area’s challenges, hopes and opportunities. I try to ask the questions that listeners want answered about the day’s most pressing issues and provide a place for residents to engage directly with newsmakers. Reach me at steve@kcur.org or on Twitter @stevekraske.
As senior producer of Up To Date, I want our listeners to hear familiar and new voices that shine light on the issues and challenges facing the myriad communities KCUR serves, and to expose our audiences to the wonderful and the creative in the Kansas City area. Just as important to me is an obligation to mentor the next generation of producers to ensure that the important conversations continue. Reach me at alexanderdk@kcur.org.