There was a time when serious arts journalism was simply part of a city’s civic fabric. Major newspapers employed dedicated critics. Long-form features examined artists’ ideas and institutions’ ambitions. The arts were covered as essential — not optional.
Over time, that changed.
As newsroom budgets tightened and ownership structures shifted — a transformation explored in Philip Meyer’s 2004 book “The Vanishing Newspaper” — arts coverage was often among the first to be reduced. Kansas City was not immune. Dedicated arts reporting diminished. Critics disappeared. Cultural memory thinned. Independent evaluation became rare.
Yet the need did not disappear.
Arts journalism is not decorative — it is infrastructure. It signals that creative work matters. It builds audiences. It documents
who we are.
That is why KC Studio magazine, published by the Arts Engagement Foundation of Kansas City, exists.
We are not an events listing. We are a newsroom devoted to the cultural life of this region — providing independent criticism, long-form storytelling, historical context and thoughtful curation across disciplines.
We are especially proud to be led the last 11 years by Alice Thorson, who previously served for 23 years as art critic at The Kansas City Star. Under her leadership, KC Studio has assembled a team of accomplished writers and critics committed to rigorous, high-quality journalism. Their work reflects deep expertise, fairness and a genuine love for this community’s creative life.
Our commitment extends beyond print. Through our website and digital features, we expand access and preserve stories. Under the direction of Martin English, TeenTix KC is cultivating the next generation of arts writers and engaged audiences. Young people are not only attending performances — they are analyzing and contributing to the cultural conversation. Susan Cantrell, our VP of Marketing, has launched us into the podcast world with a podcast: Artful Connections Along the Streetcar.
This work is possible because of partnerships. Our revenue comes from both contributed support and earned income. Our marketing team works tirelessly to build the advertising and sponsorship revenue that sustains our operations. But we could not do this without our donors — individuals and foundations who believe that independent arts journalism is essential to Kansas City’s cultural ecosystem — and the untiring fundraising efforts of KC Studio co-founder, Heidi Nast.
We are grateful to our readers, supporters, writers and partners who share the belief that the arts — and the journalism that supports them — are central to the civic life of this region.
Thank you for reading. Thank you for sustaining this work.
