M-AAA Acquires New Home in the Crossroads Arts District

Mid-America Arts Alliance is one of the largest cultural organizations in Kansas City, and yet it has existed in relative anonymity for more than 30 years. Ensconced quietly on the 7th and 8th floors of the Union Carbide Building at 912 Baltimore, M-AAA has created, funded, and distributed visual and performing arts experiences to more than 35 million people across the United States.

On March 18, 2005, the M-AAA offices will be in an upheaval—but for a good reason. Staff will begin their move from the leased building spaces in downtown Kansas City to take up permanent residence in their own building at 2018 Baltimore, in the heart of the Crossroads Arts District.

Sandwiched between Byron C. Cohen Gallery and the Society for Contemporary Photography (SCP), M-AAA will have a visible presence to the public for the first time since its inception in 1972.

Nearly 15,000 square feet will house meeting rooms, offices for 32 employees, a welcome area for visitors, and an adjoining area for the Visual Arts and Humanities preparatory department. Currently, M-AAA’s staff is divided between two spaces—the downtown office location and an off-site fabrication space.

“We are absolutely thrilled with our new home,” says Mary Kennedy McCabe, Executive Director. “We’ve worked for a long time in makeshift quarters, but finally, this building will accommodate all of our staff under one roof. Having our own space bodes well for our program growth, our ability to reach out to our constituents across the region, and our future involvement in the Kansas City area.”

A Culture Lab at the front of the building will serve as the capstone of the property renovations. The gallery-type room will serve as a staging area for the development and display of all artistic disciplines.

“The Culture Lab will function as our key instrument for arts outreach,” says McCabe. “Sometimes it’s difficult to explain what it is our organization does because we are involved in such diverse projects. We envision the Lab as a place where all of our endeavors converge to provide meaningful arts experiences for our visitors.”

Anticipated programming in the Culture Lab includes lectures by visiting curators and artists, artist residencies, poetry workshops, exhibition installations, and performing arts events. Target audiences will include community members of all ages, including school and university groups, artists, and local arts professionals.

The process of the building acquisition was lead by a committee of dedicated board members, including Board Chairman Jim Tolbert of Oklahoma City, Okla., Treasurer Robert Duncan of Lincoln, Neb., Nancy Kemper of Kansas City, Mo., Carl McCaffree of Overland Park, Kan., and Art Thompson of Lincoln, Neb. Sabatini Architects of Lawrence, Kan., is spearheading renovation plans for the building.

Mid-America Arts Alliance, founded in 1972, is a nonprofit regional arts organization based in Kansas City, Missouri. It is governed by a board of directors drawn from its partner states of Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Texas. Major support is provided by the National Endowment for the Arts, participant state arts agencies, and leading foundations and corporations. For further information, visit the Mid-America Arts Alliance Web site at www.maaa.org or contact Sarah McGreer at sarah@maaa.org.