January 27, 2021 – ArtsKC – Regional Arts Council partners with KC Crew to bring the free multi-week series, Thursday Night Arts, to the community. 

 

This revamp of the original program, which originally aired in the spring of 2020, brings four artists to the virtual stage each week to showcase talents, disciplines, and work. The pandemic impacted artists and arts organizations across the country, making it a priority for ArtsKC and others to support artists with programming. This program bridges the gap between community members and creatives during isolation by offering free space where talents can be showcased. 

 

Right now, many of us want to attend in-person events, but the risk is just too great. We want to make sure we are still providing our community with an opportunity to stay connected while still hard to convene in large groups. Similarly, we are trying to provide artists with an opportunity to continue showcasing their art, receive monetary support, and be involved,” said ArtsKC CEO and President, Dana Knapp.

 

From January- March 2021, join Thursday Night Arts to hear from four different local Kansas City artists and musicians directly from their home studios. Each free showcase provides audience members an opportunity to get intimate with their favorite local creatives, listen to their stories and see exclusive pieces of work. A new artist goes live every 30 minutes to interact with the virtual audience. 

 

Thursday Night Arts provides all community members a safe and free way to enjoy the arts virtually amid the pandemic. While First Fridays, annual art fairs, and events are on hold, art lovers can still touch artists. 

 

ArtsKC and KC Crew’s efforts are supported by grants from Evergy and The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. Thanks to their support, participating artists are paid for their time, and the program is funded for three months.

 

Arie Monroe, a caricature and comic book artist, participated in a recent Thursday Night Arts showcase. “It was a wonderful experience, and it was great to learn about all the amazing creators’ areas that I had no idea were here.  Learning their story and seeing how their work is impacting others was such a treasure. Being allowed to talk about and share my own unique abilities with others was a great experience. Thank you so much for providing this wonderful platform,” said Monroe.

 

The next Thursday Night Arts showcase is set to premiere on February 4, 2021, at 6:00 p.m. Featured artists include Ryan Wilks, Vania Soto, Lee Langston, and Vincent Orsolini. 

 

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Contact:
Leslie Escareno
Communications & Program Associate
LEscareno@artskc.org