Entries by Ann Holliday

Celebrating 13 Years of Art, Artists and Downtown Kansas City

What happens when you take art out of the gallery and put it where people live, work, walk, ride, and gather? Downtown Kansas City comes alive. For 13 years, Art in the Loop has been doing just that—bringing the creativity of local artists into the everyday experience of Downtown Kansas City. Each year from May through October, temporary visual artwork and live performances transform spaces along and near the KC Streetcar route and throughout Downtown into places of discovery, conversation, and connection.

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

(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.

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2026 Art In the Loop Project: Visual & Performing Artists Announced

The Art in the Loop Foundation is pleased to announce the 2026 Art in the Loop performing and visual artists. 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.

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Art in the Loop Announces 2026 Calls for Visual & Performing Artists

The Art in the Loop Foundation (AILF) is in search of both visual and performing artists to bring their creativity to Downtown Kansas City for the 13th Annual Art in the Loop Project. Through a competitive, open-call process, AILF selects local artists to exhibit their artwork, create site-specific artwork, or perform along and near the KC Streetcar route and at other sites in Downtown Kansas City from May – October.

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Catalytic Project Construction in Downtown KC: Barney Allis Plaza Update

Have you been to Downtown Kansas City lately? It’s hopping with activity! Our cultural destinations are mid-season, presenting world-class performances by the Kansas City Ballet, Kansas City Symphony, and Lyric Opera KC at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. The Folly Theater is hosting its Jazz Series, and theatrical events and touring Broadway shows are taking place at the Music Hall. If you have attended one of these performances, you may have noticed a large construction site in the area – Barney Allis Plaza, located adjacent to the performance venues, is well under construction with completion expected by the end of 2026. Crews are currently building the 580-space parking garage that will be topped with a 5-acre plaza and green space that will be activated with concerts, festivals, and recreational activities to anchor a vibrant convention and cultural district.

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Downtown KC Goes to DC for International Conference

Downtown Council staff attended the International Downtown Association Conference in Washington, D.C. in early October. The conference provides us the opportunity to meet with our counterparts from across the country, discuss best practices in Downtown management, and consider future trends.

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