History
KANSAS CITY, MO – Today, Jane Chu was confirmed by the United States Senate to the position of Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts. Chu was nominated by President Barack Obama to fill the position in February 2014.
Kauffman Center Chairman of the Board Julia Irene Kauffman issued the following statement:
“I am thrilled that the United States Senate confirmed Jane Chu for the prestigious chairmanship of the National Endowment for the Arts. Although we will miss her at the Kauffman Center, I believe the president and the United States Senate saw in Jane what we know to be true in Kansas City: She is an outstanding leader who brings people together to get things done.
“In my view, Jane’s confirmation is further validation of the important role the Kauffman Center plays in the performing arts, both locally and nationally. From the Kauffman Center and our wonderful resident arts companies to the hundreds of other excellent performing arts organizations throughout the city, Kansas City is a model for how a vibrant arts community can deliver positive results citywide.
“With the full support of the board of directors and Kauffman Center staff, we will continue to build on the Kauffman Center’s vision of bringing outstanding performing arts to our community. Although Jane will always be one-of-a-kind, we are very fortunate that the Kauffman Center has a strong leadership team to carry on its mission.”
Now in its third season, the Kauffman Center celebrates two years of artistic successes, increased outreach, and innovative collaborations nationally and within the Kansas City community
This week, the Kauffman Center celebrates two years of bringing extraordinary and diverse performing arts experiences to the Kansas City community. In its first two years, the Kauffman Center, in collaboration with its resident companies and community partners, has presented more than 600 performances, hosted more than 500 community and social events, and welcomed more than 900,000 audience members through its doors. Its diverse programming has shined a spotlight on Kansas City’s own vibrant arts community and attracted national talent from all genres.
On September 16, 2011, Kansas City gained worldwide attention with the opening of the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, designed by award-winning architect Moshe Safdie. A record-breaking 55,000 people attended the free community open house to get a first glimpse at the performance spaces.
Since the opening, resident companies the Kansas City Ballet, Kansas City Symphony, and Lyric Opera of Kansas City, along with numerous other community arts organizations, have experienced record attendance in their new performance home. More than 55,000 students have attended a matinee performance at the Kauffman Center through the Open Doors Transportation Fund. And Open Doors Community Tickets has allowed more than 400 underprivileged Kansas City individuals and families to attend performances at no cost.
“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. There are many opportunities to become personally involved through volunteer work, donations, and support of our performances and activities.”
Kauffman Center’s commitment to serving everyone in the community is evident from the wide range of free or low-cost programming, including Kansas City Symphony Free Happy Hour Concerts. Audiences are also able to experience low-cost presentations and performances priced as low as $10, like the popular National Geographic Live series, part of Kauffman Center Presents.
“Complementing the programming offered by other arts organizations and supporting a diversity of artistic options, ticket prices, and audiences has always been an important goal,” added Chu. “Our ‘Kauffman Center Presents’ series was specifically designed to support this endeavor to bring artistic and cultural excellence to all.”
During its second season, the Kauffman Center’s presenting series ‘Kauffman Center Presents’ featured a diverse lineup of performances. Among these were Willie Nelson, Bernadette Peters, Frankie Valli, Carol Burnett, Mary Chapin Carpenter and Shawn Colvin, Grammy Award-winning Jazz bassist Esperanza Spalding, virtuosic organist Cameron Carpenter, Mariachi legends Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán, and dynamic a capella ensemble SWEET HONEY IN THE ROCK. Collaborations with local ensemble Bach Aria Soloists for A Night of Tango featuring the music of Astor Piazzola provided audiences an opportunity support the talents of artists right here in our community. In addition, a partnership with the Greater Kansas City Chapter of the American Guild of Organists celebrating their 75th Anniversary showcased organist Chelsea Chen.
After sold out presentations in seasons one and two, the third season of the National Geographic Live speaker series will be held in the Muriel Kauffman Theatre to accommodate increased audience demand. Season packages to the National Geographic Live series are available now with subscriptions starting at just $46.
Starting in 2013, the Kauffman Center will offer another innovative arts and entertainment option with its own iconic New Year’s Eve celebration, EVE. EVE promises partygoers the opportunity to experience a night at the performing arts center like never before, including eclectic performances, great food and drinks, and a signature midnight ball drop. More information and tickets are available at www.evekc.com.
KAUFFMAN CENTER’S FIRST TWO YEARS AT A GLANCE
– More than 900,000 people attended Kauffman Center events.
– More than 600 performances occurred in first two years.
– More than 550 community or private social events were held at the Kauffman Center.
– Approximately 18,000 people took a Kauffman Center tour.
– 55,000 school children from 28 school districts had the opportunity to experience a student matinee at the Kauffman Center through the Open Doors program.
COMING SOON TO ‘KAUFFMAN CENTER PRESENTS’
– September 29: Dr. Carol Williams (The Blanche Gangwere Organ Series)
– November 17: Elizabeth & Raymond Chenault (The Blanche Gangwere Organ Series)
– November 15: Ukulele master Jake Shimabukuro
– February through May: National Geographic Live speaker series
New programs will be announced throughout the year. To learn more and receive pre-sale offers, sign up for email updates!
Photo credits: Steve Mohlenkamp Photography
** Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts celebrates its first year with a review of key milestones, memorable moments and a look at what is planned for year two **
KANSAS CITY, MO – On Sept. 16, 2011, Kansas City gained worldwide attention with the opening of the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, designed by award-winning architect Moshe Safdie. One year later, the Kauffman Center has much to celebrate, including artistic successes and increased outreach into the community.
After more than 300 performances in year one, the Kauffman Center has welcomed more than 475,000 people through its doors. The Kansas City Ballet, Kansas City Symphony and Lyric Opera of Kansas City, along with numerous other community arts organizations, have experienced increased attendance, enhanced technical capabilities and the opportunity to showcase their artistry and expanded repertoire in an intimate setting designed to connect artists with audiences like never before.
“Since the Kauffman Center’s opening last fall, hundreds of thousands of people have attended events at the Center and experienced the impact of the arts in our community,” says Julia Irene Kauffman, chairman of the Kauffman Center’s board of directors. “Providing extraordinary and diverse performing arts experiences is at the heart of what we do each day. 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.”
As a testament to the Kauffman Center’s commitment to serving everyone in the community, in its first year it hosted many free events and performances, including open dress rehearsals, Kansas City Library programs and master classes. Audiences were able to experience performances priced from $15 to $35, like the popular National Geographic Live series, part of Kauffman Center Presents.
The Kauffman Center’s aim to provide excellence performing arts experiences is illustrated by a commitment to diverse programming emphasizing extraordinary artists that reach audiences throughout and beyond the Kansas City region.
“Rounding out Kansas City’s already great range of artistic offerings was an important goal for us,” says Chu. “Our Kauffman Center Presents series was specifically designed to complement the programming offered by other arts organizations so that audiences, artistic options and even ticket prices were diverse.”
During its first season, the Kauffman Center brought in a memorable lineup of performing artists at the top of their class: Plácido Domingo, Itzhak Perlman, Diana Krall, Laurie Anderson, Lily Tomlin, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, The Chieftains, Philip Glass and Aretha Franklin, among many others. Audiences for the second season of Kauffman Center Presents have already experienced show-stopping performances by Willie Nelson and Bernadette Peters, while other great artists are still to come this year. Pop icon Frankie Valli performs this month, and Grammy Award-winning Jazz bassist Esperanza Spalding and virtuosic organist Cameron Carpenter will arrive at the Kauffman Center later in the fall. Looking further ahead, 2013 will bring performances by SWEET HONEY IN THE ROCK, Carol Burnett, Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán and the much-anticipated return of the National Geographic Live speaker series.
Chairman Julia Irene Kauffman’s goal to offer broad access to the community is emphasized in the Kauffman Center’s Open Doors initiative. Through the Open Doors Transportation Fund and Open Doors Tickets, more than 29,000 students were able to attend a performance this year, many from urban schools. Funds were raised for Open Doors tickets in order to underwrite tickets for disadvantaged individuals, distributed through local nonprofit organizations. These outreach programs will continue to serve students and local agencies in season two.
One of the highlights of summer activity was a pilot program of the GRAMMY Museum’s Music Revolutions Project, a brand-new educational initiative that stimulated creative young musicians by connecting them with GRAMMY-level artists. Created with generous support from AEG, the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts and The Recording Academy, The GRAMMY Museum’s Music Revolution Project provided 24 young local artists the opportunity to participate in an intensive, four-week curriculum including instruction, rehearsals and mentoring at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts and Sprint Center.
Along with all of the successes of its inaugural year, the Kauffman Center and the Kansas City region received national and international attention for supporting the arts. “The reviews were glowing and that is satisfying,” says Julia Irene Kauffman, “but what I appreciate most is the pride our community feels. People tell me they feel part of this place, and they should. It has been a joint effort every step of the way.”
Kauffman Center’s Inaugural Year at a Glance
• More than 475,000 people attended Kauffman Center events.
• More than 300 performances occurred in the first year.
• More than 200 community or private social events were held.
• An average of 268 people took a Kauffman Center tour each week.
• 29,000 school children from 27 school districts were given the opportunity to experience a student matinee at the Kauffman Center.
Coming soon to Kauffman Center Presents
• Sept. 25: Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons | Muriel Kauffman Theatre
• Oct. 9: Esperanza Spalding – Radio Music Society | Helzberg Hall
• Nov. 4: Cameron Carpenter, Organist | Helzberg Hall
• Jan. 30: Sweet Honey in the Rock | Muriel Kauffman Theatre
• Feb. 14: Laughter and Reflection with Carol Burnett | Muriel Kauffman Theatre
• February through May: National Geographic Live speaker series
• New programs will be announced throughout the year. Sign up for email updates and get exclusive presale offers.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Larry Jacob
Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts
(816) 308-8703
larry@doverstrategygroup.com
A Thanksgiving Note from Jane Chu
Dear Friends,
Thanksgiving is a time for reflection and, of course, to give thanks. We wanted to take this opportunity to update and thank you, our supporters, before the holiday season takes over.
When we opened the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts a little more than two months ago, we knew we were launching something for generations, and our commitment to you is to improve every day.
Here are some Kauffman Center highlights in our first 60 days of operation:
– More than 50,000 people visited the Kauffman Center during our free, public open house on September 18
– Since the opening weekend, more than 70,000 have attended dozens of diverse performances and a total of 132,000 have experienced the building through performances, tours and events
– International and national recognition for Kansas City including stories in the New York Times and on Good Morning America
– Performers from around the world have marveled at the acoustics, the layout, and the experience of performing in the Kauffman Center
– Through the Open Doors Program 11,273 children have already attended diverse performances at the Kauffman Center, and transportation funding has been awarded to over 25,000 students to attend school matinees this school year
– We continue to receive positive feedback from patrons on architecture, quality of performances and theatre spaces
As with any new building, there are always adjustments that need to be made as the building is put to use. Here are some challenges we’ve encountered and how we are addressing them:
Way Finding. We have heard from patrons that it’s a challenge to find your way around and to your seats and in and out of the building.
Solutions in the works:
- Additional visual signage is being produced and will be color-coded and matched to the tickets to help. This is being installed now;
- Additional training and support for house managers, ushers, and volunteers to help patrons find the best route to a seat;
- Changes in the ticketing to identify door numbers and seat levels. This change will take place in early 2012.
Accessibility. Although the building meets or exceeds all ADA requirements, we want to go further. Before opening, we invited several people with a variety of experiences and physical capabilities to tour the facility and suggest ways we can improve accessibility.
Solutions in the works:
- Additional signage is being printed to provide information on existing hearing and visual supports available to patrons;
- Additional training and support for house managers, ushers, and volunteers to support patrons with accessibility needs;
- Push buttons will be installed to improve restroom accessibility by end of year;
- Upgrades to drop off drive and valet that will support patrons who need help accessing the building and have a companion.
- In addition to new signage and support from volunteers to help patrons access the building from the garage, the drop off drive will be redone by the first of the year for a smoother drive and walk area.
Ticket Sales. Our resident organizations and the Kauffman Center have experienced tremendous response to our opening seasons. However, there is room to make the customer experience more friendly.
Solutions in the works:
- Changes to the box office phone system have already been put in place to minimize hold times and ordering time;
- Our website has been upgraded for ticketing purchases, but will go through an additional upgrade before year-end to improve the customer experience;
- Print-at-home tickets will be in full operation within the next two weeks. In addition, a remote will-call station will be created to help patrons pick up tickets faster and get into the show.
We are so appreciative of your support and we will continue to improve in our inaugural year. We are dedicated to opening our doors and making people feel welcome in this building.
We take all of our patrons’ feedback very seriously. Please email us at contact@kauffmancenter.org if you have comments or concerns. We appreciate your patience as we continue to improve and we are moving forward with a great sense of urgency to get make sure you have an outstanding experience at the Kauffman Center.
Have a wonderful holiday season and we look forward to seeing you at the Kauffman Center.
Sincerely,
Jane Chu
President and CEO
U.S. ENGINEERING COMPANY Sponsors Kauffman Center Children’s WALL, Gives 30 Kansas City Kids a Gift that Lasts a Lifetime
Company contributed $30,000 for local second-graders to participate in the Children’s Wall at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts
On March 7th, 2011 Kansas City-based U.S. Engineering Company joined with the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts to welcome 30 second-grade students from University Academy to make their mark permanently on the Children’s Wall at the Kauffman Center.
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