In June 2026, we attended the 5th International Placemaking Week in Detroit, joining over 650 placemakers from 177 cities across the globe. Under the theme “From Recovery to Resilience through Placemaking,” we explored Downtown Detroit’s transformation from a vehicle-centric city to a vibrant, people-first urban landscape.
Join us in continuing to build a more welcoming, vibrant Downtown today…and for generations to come. Together, we can increase our investment in dynamic public spaces that make Downtown KC an exceptional place for all to live, work, play and learn.
(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.
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.
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.
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.
2025 was a critical year for Roy Blunt Luminary Park in Downtown KC, marked by significant advancements and strong momentum for this once-in-a-generation endeavor.
Downtown Kansas City continues to evolve – growing from a traditional office district into a dynamic, mixed-use neighborhood where people live, work, and play. On Wednesday, December 3, 2025, the […]
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.
Wrap up the summer of creativity at Art in the Loop’s Closing Reception on Wednesday, October 2, 5:30 P.M., at the Kansas City Public Library – Central Library. Celebrate the city’s 12th annual outdoor exhibition, presented with the KC Streetcar Authority, and see how this year’s artists explored the theme “Wonder.”
Want to get to know this year’s Art in the Loop artists on a deeper level? We invite you to take a closer look at the stories behind the art. Visit artintheloop.com to explore artist interviews, press releases, and behind-the-scenes features that reveal the inspirations, motivations, and creative processes driving each project. Discover who they are, what they do, and—most importantly—why they do it.
Klyde Warren Park (KWP) is a 5.4-acre park built over a freeway in downtown Dallas. It is owned by the City of Dallas and operated by a non-profit organization focused on bringing the community together. Comparatively, Roy Blunt Luminary Park (Luminary Park), planned for Downtown Kansas City, will be a 5.5-acre park also over an interstate highway, connecting the Central Business District with the Convention Center and Crossroads Arts District and beyond to other adjacent communities. Similar to KWP, Luminary Park will also be managed by a non-profit organization.