A Connection to the Arts

There’s nothing like watching a child’s eyes light up as they take in the sweeping views of Brandmeyer Great Hall or hearing their thunderous applause as the curtains close on a performance.

A visit to the Kauffman Center makes for one of the most captivating field trips in Kansas City as youth experience performances or interact with staff to learn about one of the country’s premier performing arts venues. It’s an experience that sparks a love of the arts that will last a lifetime.

Several yellow school buses are parked in front of a modern glass building with a curved facade, as seen in at the Kauffman Center.

Once-in-a-Lifetime Opportunities

Field trips are an essential part of every student’s educational journey, providing opportunities to learn and explore beyond the confines of the classroom. The Kauffman Center lowers ticket costs, provides transportation assistance and connects young people to our staff and building in a variety of ways allowing students to expand their education.

Children gather in an auditorium with a blue-lit stage featuring musical instruments and equipment for an upcoming performance, reminiscent of scenes from "A Guide to the Kauffman Center.

Student Matinees

Student matinees introduce youth to the arts and make lasting impressions on them every season. The Kauffman Center’s Trailblazing Talks speaker presentations transport students across the globe. Operas, dance performances and concerts inspire awe and are presented by the Lyric Opera of Kansas City, Kansas City Ballet and Kansas City Symphony.

These events and more are integral to a well-rounded education for young people throughout Kansas City. Explore all the school programming available at the Kauffman Center.

Student Matinees

A group of six people, are seated around two circular white tables engaged in discussion. The setting appears to be a spacious, well-lit indoor area with light-colored flooring. One person, in a blue jacket, seems to be leading the conversation about field trips in Kansas City.

Career Center Stage: Meet the Kauffman Center Staff

Career Center Stage provides students a behind-the-scenes opportunity to learn how Kauffman Center staff run one of the country’s premier performing arts centers. Students engage with staff during Q&A sessions that last between 30 – 60 minutes and are often paired with a 45-minute facility tour. Scheduling is based on staff availability and the Kauffman Center typically hosts no more than one Career Center Stage monthly.

Recommended Participants: College and high school classes (up to 30 students at at time)

Fees: $150
Fees will be paid for through the Open Doors Fund if the group is affiliated with a non-profit organization (must provide Tax ID number).

To get more information about this program or inquire about availability, please email opendoors@kauffmancenter.org.

A man in a blue vest gestures toward a group of students in uniforms walking inside the large, modern Kauffman Center with its curved ceiling and expansive windows.

Educational Tours

Educational Tours provide an in-depth, behind-the-scenes peek at the facility’s performance spaces and architectural highlights. During the tour, students delve into the Kauffman Center’s history and discuss its artistic details. Educational Tours must be requested via form at least three weeks prior to the proposed visit date. Please note that tours must be scheduled around the performances and work calls of the technicians, artists and administrators who produce our amazing events; therefore, tours will not include access to backstage areas and we cannot guarantee that every tour will have the opportunity to view Muriel Kauffman Theatre and Helzberg Hall.

Duration: approximately 1 hour

Fees: 
Groups of 35 attendees or fewer – $100
Groups with more than 35 attendees – $150

Fees will be paid for through the Open Doors Fund if the group is affiliated with non-profit organization (must provide Tax ID number).

Request an Educational Tour

A group of five students, gather around a stage light setup in a school gymnasium. One female student points at the light while the others observe. They are participating in what appears to be a hands-on learning activity, reminiscent of enriching field trips in Kansas City.

In-Person Backstage Intensive

This unique experience is designed for high school and/or college students interested in careers in technical theatre including lighting, sound and stage management as well as administrative roles like marketing, ticketing and patron services. Students will engage in demonstrations, tours and discussions with Kauffman Center staff and be amazed by all the work that happens behind the scenes to create a successful production! Scheduling is based on staff and facility availability.

Recommended Participants: High school and college students (available for up to 30 students at at time)

Duration: 2.5 hours

Fee: $300
Fees will be paid for through the Open Doors Fund if the group is affiliated with a non-profit organization (must provide Tax ID number).

To get more information about this program or inquire about availability, please email opendoors@kauffmancenter.org.

Bus Transportation Fund

The Bus Transportation Fund helps to defray the cost of bringing students to the Kauffman Center. Each season, the Bus Transportation Fund helps more than 20,000 students enjoy live arts performances and educational experiences at the Kauffman Center.

Find out how the fund can help your school at the link below.

Bus Transportation Fund

Two yellow school buses parked outside a modern glass building, marked with "North Kansas City School District" and featuring extended stop signs. The striking glass facade hints at the vibrancy within, perhaps a nod to the nearby Kansas City Performing Arts scene.

Community Engagement

“Kansas City can and must nurture and educate its own artists, and the Kauffman Center is solidly committed to participating in that vital endeavor.”
– Julia Irene Dennie-Kauffman

Young people are the future of the arts — our future artists, arts professionals and audiences — and we care deeply about them. This is why the Kauffman Center’s community engagement programs aim to is create unprecedented access to arts experiences for local youth. Every field trip to the Kauffman Center is not only about learning but about igniting a passion for the arts in young peoples’ hearts.

Our Impact

A group of children on a field trip in Kansas City sit in a theater, facing forward, while children in the background do the same. Some children are smiling at the camera.

Get on Our Education Email List

Sign up for our Education Email List to be among the first to learn about educational field trips in Kansas City at the Kauffman Center. Check the box next to ‘Open Doors Program’ to receive updates about educational opportunities.

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