Artwork by Figwurm on the auction block at the 41st Annual Benefit Art Auction. (photo by Kirk Decker)
The Kansas City Artists Coalition (KCAC) is a story of initiative, empowerment, and agency. The genesis of KCAC is rooted in self-advocacy and bold initiative, aimed at changing the lives of artists living in the Kansas City region. Like most counterculture organizations born from the zeitgeist of the ’60s, the artists who founded KCAC were antiestablishment, anti-war, and political. However, their agendas also included the concept of support for artists by artists.
Artists wanted control over their artistic expression and their careers.
Founded in 1975 (incorporated in 1976) by artists who recognized a gap in resources and representation of artists in the region, KCAC was born out of the desire to create a supportive, professional environment where artists could thrive and connect. The goal was to create a strong voice for the concerns of artists. Rather than wait for the opportunity to be offered, they chose to create the opportunity they felt the artists in our community were lacking and needed.
Advocacy and empowerment rely on effective communication. From the beginning, KCAC produced a publication to connect and share resources with its members and broader Kansas City community. What began as a newsletter grew into a print magazine dedicated to critical conversations focused on the region’s visual art and literary communities. The Forum, published from 1975 to 2001, was a strategic extension of KCAC’s mission that amplified its initiatives and enhanced its ability to serve, advocate for, and celebrate the Kansas City arts community in meaningful and lasting ways.
When you advocate for yourself, you tap into the power of agency and take ownership of your story, goals, and values.
More than 20 years later, in an age dominated by transient social media and quick-scrolling online content, the Kansas City Artists Coalition is bringing back The Forum. As various social media platforms encourage and compete for our shortened attention spans, KCAC wants readers to slow down, take a dive deep, and
fully engage in critical discourse. Furthermore, The Forum serves as a cultural archive that captures the legacy and evolution of the Kansas City art scene of our time for future generations.
Creating opportunities requires innovation and resilience, as there are often no clear paths to follow. Created opportunities arise from a proactive, intentional approach. They involve recognizing a gap, envisioning a new path, or redefining what’s possible. KCAC and The Forum were born out of the desire to create a supportive, professional environment where artists could thrive and connect.
The Kansas City Artists Coalition is an essential part of our community’s cultural fabric, serving as a platform for diverse voices, experimental projects, and artists at every level of their career. As a member of the KC community, you can support the work of KCAC and The Forum at its 42nd Annual Benefit Art Auction on Saturday, Feb. 22nd — tickets available online at www.kansascitartistscoalition.org. The Annual Benefit Art Auction is an art-for-all experience with ALL proceeds going to fund operations, exhibitions, and programming for the Kansas City Artists Coalition.
–Courtney Wasson
