2021 IUAH ANNUAL REPORT

2021 ANNUAL REPORT

cultural and economic vibrancy a place where artists and prosper in an affordable,

creative industries can work sustainable inclusive environment.

To enrich the and of the community by creating and

2021 YEAR IN REVIEW & LOOKING AHEAD

2021 was a dynamic year for InterUrban ArtHouse. In March, exactly one year after the pandemic closed our doors, we gradually reopened to the public. Hours were limited, masks made it difficult to understand and be understood by our fellows, and many an awkward moment was shared over how exactly to greet one another with handshaking and hugs still off the table.

While cautiously returning to in-person programming, the ArtHouse continued to maintain a strong virtual presence. ArtWorks entrepreneurial support for KC area artists returned to the scene after its pandemic hiatus in 2020. Conducted primarily with the aid of Zoom and web-based resources, ArtWorks served 92 unduplicated artists between its spring and fall rounds. Funding from the Kansas Creative Arts Industries Commission allowed the ArtHouse to gain experience from Springboard for the Arts, while funding from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation has made it possible to begin carrying out the important work of expanding this programming into marginalized communities across the metro through increased partnership and impact measurement.

ANGI CAIN HEJDUK INTERURBAN ARTHOUSE CEO

Partnerships blossomed, as the ArtHouse worked in collaboration with the Kansas City Artists Coalition to lead ArtWorks programming. Springboard for the Arts, based in Minnesota, provided a brand new curriculum - “Work of Art” - for ArtWorks. Throughout the year, the ArtHouse worked with a number of arts orgs across the region to promote opportunities for artists, including KCAC, the Arts Council of Johnson County, ArtsKC, Charlotte Street, No Divide KC, the City of Overland Park, Mid America Arts Alliance and a host of others. Art As Mentorship completed and began program work in its new sound studio, housed in InterUrban ArtHouse’s facility at 8001 Newton Street in Overland Park.

2021 was also a strong year for exhibitions at the ArtHouse. Our exhibitions highlight the essential and ongoing celebration of diverse cultures and uniquenesses, with a strong emphasis on equity, justice, and representation. The year began with an extension of Tangled Roots in the gallery and our regular ArtHeals show took place online. Her Art/Their Art in the spring showcased the work of 46 local artists; The Queer Experience featured 28 artists and 7 regional storytellers sharing their experiences; Tangled Roots highlighted the phenomenal work of over 40 artists and storytellers; and our end-of-year Member 12 by 12 show exhibited over 200 pieces by more than 60 area artists. In addition to these strong showings, IUAH hosted special exhibitions, including “Glorious Days,” a solo retrospective of beloved studio artist Marcia Streepy’s work, as well as the final public showing of La Onda’s exhibition of local Latinix artists.

In house, ArtHouse artists were deeply engaged in their artistic practices. Beginning in June, funding from Mid-America Arts Alliance’s Artistic Innovations grant empowered us to pay artists to create new, original social-justice artworks for our core exhibitions - ArtHeals, Her Art/Their Art, The Queer Experience, and Tangled Roots. By the close of the year, 9 artists produced 9 “Artists As Advocates” projects consisting of more than 60 artworks serving as centerpieces in our shows.

Among the most significant projects upcoming, the ArtHouse will be replacing its deteriorating parking lot and updating its outdoor event space for enhanced accessibility and program use. The improved space will increase our unique capacity to address an unmet need in the community for a public gathering space that elevates multicultural inclusion in arts and culture.

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and community in a 10,000 sq. foot former USPS sortng facility. Reinvented and revitalized in 2018, the IUAH ArtSpace now includes 19 studio spaces,

The ArtSpace provides afordable space for artsts occupied by 30 artsts , and a 3,500 sq. foot gallery and event space used for exhibitons, classes, presentatons, performances and private events.

In 2021, IUAH had 24 studio artsts and 6 exhibitons that involved over 200 artsts.

ArtsConnect represents the community engagement

work done by IUAH. By placing arts and culture at the center of local outreach events, IUAH creates a community that pushes conventonal boundaries including age, race, ethnicity, gender identty, sexual orientaton and ability. ArtsConnect starts at IUAH but steps outside our walls and into businesses, municipalites and neighborhoods.

In 2021, ArtsConnect served 4,600+ community members through 25 events.

development training to creatves to become

ArtWorks provides opportunites for entrepreneurial professional, self-sufcient small businesses. Through ArtWorks programming, we aim to support innovaton by enabling growth, advancing business skills and providing training for the creatve sector. ArtWorks includes topics such as strategic planning, marketng & communicatons, grants writng and fundraising, budgetng, accountng & tax planning, project management and legal practces.

In 2021, ArtWorks served 712 of individuals through 27 classes.

ArtHeals provides art-therapy and art-related mental, physical, and community health programming for individuals, small groups and large groups. ArtHeals seeks to provide a safe environment for sharing, creatng and healing. ArtHeals strives to promote the exploraton of self, culture, identty, and more through purposeful art actvites.

In 2021, ArtHeals served impacted over 6,000

community members through 8 events and the display of suicide preventon installatons in over 200 schools.

ArtSmart provides low-income and at-risk students professional development opportunites. In 2021, ArtSmart contracted with 11 artst instructors who led 18 classes in 4 partcipatng Title-I schools, serving 336 students.

with arts enrichment and curriculum integraton for enhanced learning. By engaging with local artsts, young people are inspired through dance, story telling, music, poetry, paintng, sculpture and feld trips. For artsts instructors, ArtSmart provides

ArtMaters provides opportunites for artsts of all levels wishing to advance their artstc skills, learn

new studio methods, partcipate in discussions and critques and to connect with other creatves.

ArtMaters ofers presentatons and workshops by visitng and established artsts, discussions, and artst mentoring. For artst instructors, ArtMaters provides artsts with paid teaching opportunites to share their skills, enhancing the community through artstc learning and expression.

In 2021, ArtMaters served 520 community members through 54 events.

JADE GREEN ANDI MEYERS ISRAEL ALEJANDRO GARCIA GARCIA JOSE FAUS SHERI HALL CLARISSA KNIGHTEN ROYCE HANDY ENRIQUE CHI MG SALAZAR LINNAIA MCKENZIE NYLA FOSTER KOREA KELLY