Mike Burke is a director and CEO of Burke, Koch & Payne Law Firm. He is a life-long Kansas City resident and attended Rockhurst High School. He received his undergraduate degree in history from Georgetown University in 1970 and his Juris Doctor from Georgetown University Law Center where he was Research Editor for Law and Policy in International Business. Burke is known for serving in a broad range of civic endeavors including: Chair of the Public Improvements Advisory Committee, First District City Councilman, and Chair of KC Riverfest. He served as Co-Chair of the Mayors Bistate Innovation Team charged with recommending strategies for Kansas City tech and digital initiatives. He helped develop the Launch KC program for the Economic Development Corporation, a program designed to attract start up technology firms to the area. He currently is serving as co-chair of the Mayor’s Task Force for the Arts working on the City’s strategy for growing the arts in Kansas City.
1. Tell the readers of KC Studio about Envision Arts and Culture KC.
While I am not an expert in the arts, I do thoroughly understand the importance of a vibrant arts community in the growth and development of our city. In the mid-1980s, I lobbied for the Bistate Cultural District legislation. During my tenure on the City Council, we worked on setting up the 1 Percent for the Arts program … I was on the Chamber committee to help set up the Arts Fund for Kansas City. I have also seen how other cities have elevated the importance of the arts within city government. During the last mayor’s race, I pursued the idea of a thorough review of city planning for the arts, including a new position for the arts within city government—a position that Mayor James has also embraced. We are doing a comprehensive analysis of the arts and the big question we are asking is what can the city do for the arts and what can the arts do for our citizens?
2. What are the areas of focus and is there an area that resonates most with you?
The task force has been divided into four primary focuses: marketing of the arts, education, urban planning and governance. Education resonates with me most. The focus would be from pre-kindergarten to post graduate. K-12 would receive the most energy as the emphasis and the availability of the arts is limited by budget cuts. It’s a tragedy when you think that the next Bobby Watson may be in our schools, but has no access to music and no encouragement. There used to be a robust summer theater program at Loose Park for teens. It went on from the 1960s to the early 1980s. It was a great activity that encouraged teamwork and organization.
3. What should marketing, urban planning and governance look like?
We need better information on Kansas City arts locally and nationally. I would like to see hotels offer an arts package. When you visit New York, there are often Broadway and museum packages. Hotels might have an arts concierge who could organize and promote the arts. … It’s about creative place-making. As for governance, we need to adequately staff our city hall arts professionals if we are to take the city to the next level nationally.
4. How should Kansas City’s future look?
The cities that are well prepared for the next decade are those that nurture, attract and lure back creative talent. I see it in the technology areas too. We are not just in regional competition, but global competition for these folks and companies like Garmin and Cerner are recruiting internationally. The cities that will succeed are uniting technology and the arts. If we are to be America’s Creative Crossroads, we have to be more than barbecue and fountains. Each and every one of us should be ambassadors for the metropolitan area … I’d like us to develop some of that swagger again. …
5. Do you have an artistic past and what organizations do you like to attend?
My passion was acting. In the 1960s, I was part of the City Parks and Recreation Theater in the Parks program. We were called the Brick Road Players after the street next to the Westport Community Center where we rehearsed. My first show there was Charlie’s Aunt. We also did shows like Inherit the Wind, and Arsenic and Old Lace. I had experiences on stage and behind the scenes. It was so wonderful to be part of this group. We took great pride in what we did. Now, my wife and I have season tickets to Starlight. I enjoy the ballet and smaller venues like the Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre.
