2026 Art in the Loop Project Kicks Off with Opening Reception on Jun 3, 2026

By Ann Holliday, Vice President of Strategic Initiatives at Downtown Council of Kansas City

(Kansas City, Missouri) – Join the Art in the Loop Foundation for a Kick-Off event for the 2026 Art in the Loop Project: Home, on Wednesday, June 3, at 5:30 p.m. at the Kansas City Public Library: Central Library, 14 West 10th Street. Guests will enjoy an evening of art and music as they are invited to meet the 2026 performing and visual artists. The event starts at 5:30 p.m. with a musical performance by the Ryan Marquez Trio. The program also includes storytelling by Beatrice C. Henry and a spoken-word performance by the Hood Dude Food Review. Guests are invited to meet with performing and visual artists for a chance to learn about the work the artists are creating for this year’s project. Please join us for this event, which is free and open to the public. Click here to RSVP.

The Art in the Loop Project is a curated outdoor exhibition of temporary artworks and performance series presented in partnership with the KC Streetcar. This year marks the thirteenth year for the Art in the Loop Project and includes visual artwork based on paintings and digitized illustrations, and performance artwork based in dance, experimental jazz, hip hop, spoken word, and more.

This year, we asked artists to respond to our theme, Home and explore the places, people, and dreams that bring us back to ourselves. We encouraged artists to reflect on the various emotions associated with the idea of home—the catalyst for the ways in which we experience life and evolve over time.

The following visual artists’ works will be displayed at KC Streetcar shelters, on one KC Streetcar vehicle, and within Oppenstein Brothers Memorial Park between the end of May and November 2026:

Visual Artists and Art Installations:

• Anjola Ayodele, Carried By Sound, River Market Northbound KC Streetcar Stop
• Cheryl Gail, Small Works Art Gallery, Oppenstein Brothers Memorial Park
• Christine Cookson, Wandering Dreams, Oppenstein Brothers Memorial Park
• Deanna Dikeman, Patio Barbecues, Armour Southbound KC Streetcar Stop
• DINKC, We Are Home, North Loop Southbound KC Streetcar Stop
• Kai Johnson, Home is Imagination, Riverfront KC Streetcar Stop
• Kevin VanEmburgh, Seasons of Home, Southmoreland Northbound KC Streetcar Stop
• Michelle Briggs, Blossoming Origins, Library Northbound KC Streetcar Stop
• Ramona Cliff, Evening Flights, KC Streetcar #805
• Taylar Sanders, A Modern Belonging, Kauffman Southbound KC Streetcar Stop
• Vania Soto, Abuelita’s Kitchen is Home, River Market West (Delaware) KC Streetcar Stop

The following performing artists will present an incredible summer revue of free performances. For fans of music, dance, and spoken word, we are certain that there will be something engaging for everyone.

Performance Artists & Schedule:

• Kick-Off Event | June 3, 5:30 p.m. at Kansas City Public Library – Central Library | RSVP
  • Ryan Marquez Trio
  • Hood Dude Food Review
  • Beatrice C. Henry

• Oppenstein Park Performances | June 18, 5:30 p.m., Oppenstein Brothers Memorial Park | RSVP
  • City in Motion Dance Theater
  • The Royal Chief
  • MissConception
  • Gypsy Soul Work

• Art Walk | July 21, 6:00 p.m., Starts at the Riverfront KC Streetcar Stop | RSVP
  • All visual artists

• 816 Day Performances | August 16, 6:00 p.m., City Market | RSVP
  • The DynamitExperience
  • BodaciousThang
  • FK MENACE

• Art Ride | September 23, 6:00 p.m., Starts at the UMKC KC Streetcar Stop | RSVP
  • Beth Watts Nelson
  • HeadHunterz

• Closing Reception | October 29, 5:30 p.m. at the Kansas City Public Library – Central Library | RSVP
  • Ernest Melton and Friends
  • Socorro Reyes Ramirez

Art in the Loop will also feature special social practice engagements and installations by “A Girl &” throughout the season. Learn more about all of the artists at www.artintheloop.com.

Community, Sponsors & Supporters

Artists have played a key role in the revitalization of Downtown Kansas City over the past few decades, and through programs like Art in the Loop, this will continue. In the words of renowned local artist Michael Toombs,  “Through projects like Art in the Loop, Downtown KC is becoming part of a highly visible cultural landscape that reminds us of who we are, as well as inspires us in who we are yet to become.” We have unique opportunities for your organization to connect with the community and support local artists through sponsorships and charitable donations.

We appreciate the generous support of the KC Streetcar Authority, Henderson Engineers, Stinson LLP, Copaken Brooks, and the Kansas City Art Institute. This project is funded in part by the Richard J. Stern Foundation for the Arts, the Muriel McBrien Kauffman Family Foundation, and the City of Kansas City, Missouri, Neighborhood Tourist Development Fund, with public support from the Missouri Arts Council, a state agency, as well as other corporate sponsorships and philanthropic contributions.

For more information, contact Ann Holliday, ann@downtownkc.org, Vice President of Strategic Initiatives at the Downtown Council and Executive Director of the Art in the Loop Foundation.

We appreciate the support and participation of all our project partners, including the Downtown Council, Downtown Community Improvement Districts, KC Streetcar, Kansas City Public Library, Kansas City Art Institute, City Market, and Union Station.

For more information about the project and the artists, visit www.artintheloop.com, www.facebook.com/artintheloop, or https://www.instagram.com/artintheloop.

Contacts:

Art in the Loop
Ann Holliday, Program Director, ann@downtownkc.org, (c) 816-718-1355

Khyneesha Edwards, Visual Arts Director, neeshaedwards26@gmail.com

Jade Osborne, Performing Arts Director, jadeosborneart@gmail.com

KC Streetcar

Donna Mandelbaum, Communications & Marketing Director, dmandelbaum@kcstreetcar.org,  (c) 816-877-3219