ArtsKC, the arts council for the Kansas City metro area, announced a move Monday from downtown to the Crossroads Arts District in Kansas City, Mo.
The new location, at the corner of Southwest Boulevard and Baltimore, places the 15-year-old organization squarely in the center of a thriving arts and cultural scene.
"We see this as a potential game-changer for our organization. With room to grow, ArtsKC can meet the changing demands of the community, our programs, and our partners more efficiently in a highly visible and accessible new location," Harlan Brownlee, ArtsKC president and CEO, said in a news release.
The organization has launched a $100,000 fundraising campaign to support the relocation and renovation to their new site: an historic building at 106 Southwest Boulevard. It's the former home of Omni Models, Inc., a scale model firm; the company has relocated to Shawnee, Kan.
One of ArtsKC's business partners, Spencer Fane, contributed a $10,000 lead gift.
"We believe in arts and innovation and know the critical role both play in making Kansas City the vibrant place it is," said Nathan Orr, a Spencer Fane partner, also in a release. "That's important to us, because a vibrant community is key to attracting top talent, and top talent is our business."
The new Crossroads location, slated to open this summer, is expected to provide more awareness about the organization, which serves five counties in Kansas and Missouri.
A community space in their new building will also be available for discussions about regional arts issues.
