They left during the middle of the night—often carrying little more than guidance of the north star. An estimated 100,000 enslaved people between 1830 and the end of the Civil War in 1865 chose to embark on this journey in…

Photographer Jeanine Michna-Bales to Attend First Friday at Culture Lab On Friday, June 6, Kansas City audiences are invited to experience a rare visual exploration of the Underground Railroad. Through Darkness to Light: Photographs Along the Underground Railroad will be…

Are you an artist, creator, or arts organization seeking new art opportunities to grow your practice, expand your network, or secure funding? Our rolling roundup of upcoming opportunities is designed to help you stay informed about the latest art grants,…

David Maldonado transforms communities around Houston with colorful and empowering murals that have earned him growing recognition and high-profile commissions. But back in the day, he was just a kid who made art. No pretense, no larger plan. “A lot…

Updated May 14, 2025 Federal support for arts and culture is changing quickly, and we need a strong, united response. Many organizations are actively engaged in advocacy, working to shape policy and secure funding to preserve and support the arts,…

Just east of St. Louis, across the Mississippi River, there is a peaceful room filled with curved wooden walls ready to receive harmonies and vibrations. It’s here, at Lonnie’s Farm Recording Studio, that we find Ryan Marquez sitting at the…

Dear valued member of our community, On Friday, many active and pending grants from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) were abruptly terminated. This comes alongside the president’s proposal to eliminate the NEA entirely in the FY26 federal budget.…

Twenty-two arts organizations across the Mid-America Arts Alliance (M-AAA) six-state region have received grants of $50,000 through Cultural Sustainability: Operational Impact Grants for Small Arts Organizations, a pilot program supporting culturally driven arts organizations and arts-centric businesses with operating expenses…

It may have looked like they were just building costumes for a play. But these makers and collaborators were building community and resilience. Finding your people can be a challenge, especially for military families on the move. Each relocation comes…

Steve Tamayo of Nebraska and Edward Poullard of Texas have been named 2025 NEA National Heritage Fellows—an honor that recognizes their outstanding contributions to traditional arts in America. These fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) are the nation’s…

Each year on April 15, World Art Day invites people around the globe to recognize the vital role the arts play in shaping our societies, our economies, and our everyday lives. Established by the International Association of Art, this international…

There’s a lot to love about Kansas, from the Tallgrass Prairie, sunflower fields, Monument Rocks, and vast skies filled with stars—all of which inspire artists and musicians in the heart—and geographic center—of America. This year’s Kansas Arts Commission’s (KAC) Governor’s…