Have you ever found yourself in limbo on Friday evening thinking, “There’s this amazing arts community in KC, but how do I plug in quickly to a backstage tour, or an exclusive experience where I can meet the people behind the art? Now, imagine yourself on that Friday night, off the couch and mingling with interesting folks, eating delicious food, sipping a cocktail and chatting with a Kansas City Ballet company dancer about his or her craft at an exclusive backstage tour – all for only $20.
The ArtsKC Encounter program is your ticket to that exclusive, backstage look at the arts community in Kansas City. It’s your chance to contribute to the success of that community through a donation to the ArtsKC Fund, and then see the art your donation has supported. When you donate at least $120 to the ArtsKC Fund Campaign (or just $52 if you qualify as a Young Professional Donor, between 21 and 40), you unlock access to free and discounted tickets to six unique, pre-planned events throughout the year. Your initial donation goes directly to support grants made to artists, arts organizations, and arts program throughout the five-county Kansas City area, and you reap the benefits!
Each ArtsKC Encounter includes cocktails and appetizers along with an art immersion experience that may feature a tour at a visual arts venue, a chance to make your own masterpiece, or a musical, dance or theatrical rehearsal. ArtsKC Encounter members can attend any event for just $20. At the $120 level, you receive free tickets. This is all thanks to our presenting sponsor, CommunityAmerica Credit Union.
Here are some of the fabulous events coming up that you can attend as an ArtsKC Encounter Member:
The Art of Resiliency | January 22, 2016 | Synergy Services, Inc. Youth Resiliency Center
Synergy’s Youth Resiliency Center (YRC) brings together the best programs and agencies from the community to help metro youth overcome trauma and go on to lead healthy, productive lives. In the YRC’s Creative Arts Center, a wide variety of therapeutic arts-based programs are offered by the finest teaching artists in the community. Come tour the YRC, hear from one of these amazing teaching artists, and get a taste for creating with a make-and-take art project!
Ceramics and The Whale | March 11, 2016 | Kansas City Art Institute + The Unicorn Theatre
The Kansas City Art Institute has one of the most prestigious ceramic arts programs in the world. Join us for a private viewing of ceramic works by KCAI artists. Then, enjoy the Kansas City premiere of The Whale at Unicorn Theatre. “Savagely funny and deeply touching”, this production will show you beauty in the unexpected (and we’ll get to speak with some of people who made the production possible!)
Backstage Brews with the Ballet | April 28, 2016 | Kansas City Ballet Bolender Center
For our final enounter of the season you are invited to a private behind-the-scenes look at Kansas City Ballet’s breathtaking production of Rite of Spring. This fun event is presented in partnership with KC Ballet BARRE, a membership social group for dance enthusiasts. You will see a rehearsal of Yuri Possokhov’s Diving into the Lilacs, one of the four ballets featured in the May production, plus hear more from the choreographer in a special meet and greet.
Interested in having a wonderful evening and supporting the arts in our community?
Head over to ArtsKC.org/CampaignSupport to make your $120 donation to the ArtsKC Fund today! Checks can be mailed to: ArtsKC, ATTN: ArtsKC Fund, 106 Southwest Boulevard, KCMO 64108.
–Lydia Zacharias, ArtsKC Fund Manager
