KC’s Art District Teeming with Culture …At the Crossroads of American Creativity and Innovation November 16, 2011 There's a reason why we call it the Crossroads. It’s more than just an intersection of two streets in downtown Kansas City. It's a vibrant and diverse community that welcomes all walks of life and all forms of artistic expression. The Crossroads Arts District is an eclectic enclave of boutique shops, one-of-a-kind restaurants, creative businesses, unique event spaces, studios and art galleries. But the shops and cafes are just the beginning. Home to more than 400 local artists and 100 independent studios, the Crossroads is one of the most concentrated gallery districts in the nation. Beyond the galleries, restaurants and storefronts, you'll find an equally impressive collection of professional design studios, architectural firms, digital media production facilities, advertising agencies and other innovative businesses. The Crossroads is a hotbed of creative enterprise, and companies find a home in the Crossroads where they can pull from the creative energy, young talent and neighborhood diversity flowing freely through the district. These businesses flourish and contribute to the progressive, earthy and organic vibe of the Crossroads.
First Fridays and Second Saturdays Any time is a good time to visit the Crossroads. Lose the tie and unbutton your top button while you find your way along our streets and sidewalks. From First Fridays to Second Saturdays, fashion events and music festivals, the Crossroads has a time and a place for everyone. Just take a walk on our sidewalks. You'll find everything from late-night diners to high-end sushi. And the boutique shops around every corner are full of unique items created by local designers. Be it for flowers, shoes, furniture or fashion, shopping in the Crossroads is never the same thing twice. And while you're here, look up. Do you see all those people grilling hamburgers on their balconies as throngs of people mill about in the streets below? They live here. It’s a neighborhood. Mixing business with pleasure is highly encouraged.
Crossroads Galleries The bread and butter of the Crossroads, nationally and internationally recognized artists display their work in iconic art studios and galleries throughout the area. “In many ways, the KC art scene is more pulsating with life than its more famous outposts in the East,” The New York Times says. Popular venues include the Blue Gallery, the Belger Art Center, Kemper at the Crossroads and the Leedy-Voulkos Art Center. And the first digital media gallery—HEX Pixel Gallery at t2—made its debut this summer featuring national video artists.
Crossroads Special Events Over the years, the shops, galleries and private businesses have opened their doors to private and public audiences for more than just a First Friday gallery walk. The Crossroads is home to a variety of event spaces like Lidia's Kansas City, Berg Event Space, The Terrace on Grand, Webster House, The Venue at t2 and 2000 Grand. These venues and many more host everything from wedding receptions to holiday parties, corporate events to charitable galas. Here the urbanite and the suburban family cross paths in a testament to the Crossroads’ diverse and inspirational personality.
Crossroads Annual Events For a taste of creativity brewing in the Kansas City fashion industry, check out the annual West 18th Street Fashion Show. First produced in 2001, the event showcases emerging talent in the Kansas City fashion scene providing a new and creative platform to designers, models and fashionistas alike. Each June, dozens of daring styles grace the runway in what’s become Kansas City’s premiere (and free!) fashion extravaganza. The music scene in the Crossroads is bumping right along to the same beat as KC’s arts renaissance. Every September local bands and musicians participate in the annual Crossroads Music Fest. Fans trek through the Crossroads to see their favorite acts put on a great show at renowned music hotspot The Brick and an assortment of other venues. The festival promotes the spirit of grassroots music movements alongside the free-flowing creative juices of the city’s top artistic talent.
The Kauffman Center for Performing Arts The addition of the Kauffman Center for Performing Arts to Kansas City’s Crossroads District puts the city on the map not only for the building’s achievement as an architectural marvel, but also for the rich contribution the Kauffman Center makes to America’s performance arts scene. A 285,000-square-foot facility with two main performance halls, the $413 million Kauffman Center houses weekly performances ranging from the Kansas City Ballet to spectacular musical ensembles of the KC Symphony and Opera. The building’s refreshing design reflects its commitment to a high-quality acoustic experience and embraces the creative spirit at the center of the Crossroads District. Whether it’s to catch a show at the Kauffman Center, attend a private party at one of the many diverse venues or peruse the open galleries on a Friday evening, we invite you to experience the spirit of the Crossroads. Sparked by energy and ingenuity that spans multiple generations, sectors and industries, Kansas City is truly “America’s Creative Crossroads.”
For more information, please visit www.KCCrossroads.org