Kauffman Center Featured by Google Arts & Culture

Explore Kansas City culture in a new interactive online project by
Google Arts & Culture in collaboration with the Kauffman Center

Photo of Brandmeyer Great Hall by Jillian Shoptaw

On Friday, April 5, 2019, Google Arts & Culture launched Kansas City – Google Arts & Culture’s first online exhibition featuring an American city. The project brings together collections, stories and 360-degree tours from 15 renowned Kansas City institutions, including the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts.

Photo of Helzberg Hall by Steve Mohlenkamp

From articles like ‘11 Fun Facts About Kansas City‘ to ‘The KC BBQ Experience: What to Expect,’ the exhibition highlights the history, people and culture that makes Kansas City the “Heart of America.” The project launched with a video highlighting Kansas City’s arts and culture scene. The platform has introduced Kansas City and its arts and culture to an international audience giving visitors around the world the opportunity to learn and experience Kansas City in a new way.

The partnership also features Google Arts & Culture’s Art Camera – a custom device that takes hundreds of close-up images, revealing a level of detail hidden from the naked eye. This means Helzberg Hall, Muriel Kauffman Theatre and Brandmeyer Great Hall can now be viewed in an interactive 360-degree gigapixel-picture.

“We’re excited to launch our first project profiling an American city here in Kansas City,” said Simon Delacroix, US Lead at Google Arts & Culture. “Kansas City’s vibrant art and history has been instrumental to Google Arts & Culture from our very beginning in 2011. Today marks a big step forward — with the help of 15 world-class institutions, we’re thrilled to share with anyone, anywhere, some of the amazing stories that make Kansas City the Heart of America.”

Paul Schofer, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Kauffman Center stated, “We’re excited and honored to be a part of this ambitious endeavor to highlight the many artistic and cultural experiences that Kansas City has to offer. The Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts is an iconic part of the arts and cultural landscape of Kansas City and we are proud to be included to showcase what so many of us already know: that Kansas City has world-class entertainment for everyone.”

Below are some of the featured exhibitions about the Kauffman Center:

Photo of the Kauffman Center from the southside by Mary Beth Russell

• Performances at the Kauffman Center: featuring information on the 300+ performances the Kauffman Center hosts per year (including the Kauffman Center Presents series, Kansas City Symphony, Kansas City Ballet and the Lyric Opera of Kansas City).
• The Construction of the Kauffman Center: an exclusive look into the five-year construction of the Kauffman Center from groundbreaking to grand opening.
• Architecture Highlights: an in-depth look at the Kauffman Center’s architectural features both inside and outside of the facility.
• The King of All Instruments: a showcase of the Julia Irene Kauffman Casavant Organ, Opus 3875, one of the finest performance organs in the country and the visual centerpiece of Helzberg Hall at the Kauffman Center.

You can experience Kansas City and the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts by downloading the Android or iOS app or visiting Google Arts & Culture.