The Kansas City area is alive with all the creative possibilities that attract discerning groups. Local attractions brim with opportunities for interested attendees to get out after the meeting to enjoy paintings, music, plays, dance, film and more.
These same venues of interest—including a major Midwestern performing arts center, art galleries and a storied movie theater—also often house magnificent gathering spaces complete with built-in decor and an unforgettable artistic vibe.
Following are five wonderfully artsy off-site options in the metro area where Kansas and Missouri meet.
Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, Kansas City, Mo.
The Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, housed in an iconic Moshe Safdie-designed building that has updated Kansas City’s skyline, recently celebrated two years of bringing diverse performing arts experiences to the area.
“We strongly believe that at the Kauffman Center there is something for everyone, and we will continue to work toward providing enriching arts opportunities for audiences of all ages and tastes,” says Jane Chu, president and CEO of the Kauffman Center. “People tell me they feel part of this place, and they should.”
Joining its calendar of Kansas City Ballet, Lyric Opera of Kansas City and other performances, planners on a budget will find many free or low-cost options, including Kansas City Symphony’s free Happy Hour Concerts and the nominally priced and popular National Geographic Live series.
Among the venue’s spaces available for banquets, receptions, general sessions and other gatherings are its two performance venues, the 1,800-seat Muriel Kauffman Theatre and the 1,600-seat Helzberg Hall; the mezzanine lobby; a lounge area; balconies; and terraces.
Additionally, Philippe Lechevin, the Kauffman Center’s executive chef, will assist groups in creating a custom menu to suit any occasion. PageBreak
Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, Kansas City, Mo.
The combination of art and food make the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art and its celebrated Cafe Sebastienne a terrific duo for private events, according to Margaret Keough, spokeswoman for the museum.
“Your event at the Kemper Museum is sure to impress your guests and make for a memorable evening,” she says, adding that receptions, meetings, dinners and docent-led tours are all accommodated here.
Situated just a few blocks north of Kansas City’s popular Country Club Plaza, the Kemper Museum boasts a world-renowned collection of modern and contemporary art, including works by Frank Stella, Georgia O’Keeffe and Wayne Thiebaud, as well as special temporary exhibits.
“The menus at Cafe Sebastienne are as inventive as the art on the walls of the museum,” Keough adds, explaining that Executive Chef Jennifer Maloney uses fresh seasonal ingredients and organic produce in her menus, which can be paired with wines from an extensive wine list. “From box lunches to buffets and seated dinners, Cafe Sebastienne offers artful menus with gracious service. Cafe staff may also offer assistance with your event’s special arrangements, including floral decorations and party rentals.”
As well as the cafe, the museum offers several other gathering spots. Among them are the atrium, featuring soaring architecture, and an interior courtyard, both of which feature works from the museum’s permanent collection.
Sherry Leedy Contemporary Art, Kansas City, Mo.
Sherry Leedy Contemporary Art, known as the premier gallery venue in Kansas City, features exhibits of both established and emerging artists working in all media from the Midwest and around the country, according to Sherry Leedy, owner and director.
“The gallery was the first and is the longest-running contemporary art gallery in the Crossroads neighborhood of Kansas City and has been instrumental in the transformation of the Crossroads into the heart of contemporary culture that it is today,” she says. “Out-of-town visitors are often surprised and always impressed with the vitality of the Kansas City art scene in the Crossroads.”
On the first Friday of every month, for example, all of the galleries in the neighborhood are open in the evening and host thousands of visitors with free exhibits and events. PageBreak
Vox Theatre, Kansas City, Kan.
Built in 1922 as a silent movie theater called the Rosedale Theatre, the event-ready Vox Theatre changed names in the 1940s when sound was introduced to film and operated as a movie house until the 1960s.
“The current owner bought the venue in 2009 and restored what he could and turned it into an event space,” says Kate Bouwer, spokeswoman for the venue, which regularly accommodates corporate parties, award ceremonies, concerts and various other events.
Planners will appreciate the blank canvas feel of the venue, which has some unique features, including the illuminated area with an exposed brick wall where the movie screen once resided, ornate ceilings and modern lighting.
McCarthy Gallery, Kansas City, Kan.
The McCarthy Gallery at the Hilton Garden Inn–Kansas City Kansas Downtown, which is connected to the Jack Reardon Convention Center, features a collection of artwork from the McCarthy Family.
“They were residents of the Kansas City Kansas Area and were patrons of the arts,” says Tim Ryan, director of sales at the hotel. “Their collection has about 30 pieces in different styles and represents the hardworking prosperity of Kansas City, Kansas.”
He adds that the room itself accommodates a multitude of events, including transforming into an intimate reception space as well as a meeting room for up to 75 people.
“A notable use of the room last year was a breakfast for 18 people for the mayor of Kansas City, Kansas, and the ambassador to the Czech Republic,” Ryan says. “They had a meeting over breakfast concerning some best practices that have been employed to stimulate similar economies. I find this significant because the McCarthy Gallery is representative of the era when there was transformation and growth as we are experiencing currently.”
Prairiebrooke Gallery, Overland Park
Prairiebrooke has been conserving and providing works of contemporary fine art for Overland Park since 1990, and remains a popular host for frequent artist showcases throughout the year. The gallery has two locations, with the downtown Overland Park location renovated as an homage to top SOHO galleries.
Prairiebrooke is available for private events. High-top tables and ample gallery space make for an excellent venue for receptions and parties, and it has a full kitchen. The venue can accommodate up to 75 people standing or 40 for a sit-down event.
Frequent contributor Carolyn Blacburn would have loved visiting the Vox back in the day when talkies first arrived to replace silent movies.
