BravoKC: Kauffman Center Turns Five, Live!

10,000 attendees celebrated the FREE 5^th anniversary celebration, a thank you to all who helped make Kauffman Center a cultural cornerstone in Kansas City

The Kauffman Center’s BravoKC welcomed 10,000 visitors who celebrated the Kauffman Center’s fifth anniversary. The FREE event, BravoKC welcomed the community on First Friday, Sept. 2 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. and featured FREE live performances from local performers on three stages, interactive activities on the south lawn, birthday cake and concluded with a fireworks display.

“BravoKC is a thank you to all of those who have helped make the Kauffman Center a success in the first five years of operation. The tremendous support from the community has made the Kauffman Center a bridge to Kansas City’s most dynamic downtown neighborhoods and a cultural cornerstone of Kansas City,” said President and CEO Paul J. Schofer. “We could not be more grateful to be a part of the Kansas City arts community and home for the performing arts. Commemorating the Kauffman Center’s fifth anniversary, BravoKC welcomed all visitors to celebrate performances, events and memories from the first five years. Kauffman Center is excited about the future of the arts in Kansas City and is committed to providing memorable performing arts experience to all for generations to come.”

Since opening, the Kauffman Center has welcomed more than 2 million audience members and guests through its doors. Its diverse programming continues to showcase Kansas City’s vibrant arts community and attracts acclaimed national talent from all genres. 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.

Along with artistic successes, Kauffman Center’s first five years have been marked by solid financials due, in no small part, to efficiencies created within the Center’s operating and staffing models and from financial and volunteer support within the Kansas City community. Effective management and strong annual fundraising support have allowed Kauffman Center to operate in the black for each of its first five years, which is considered an exceptional accomplishment in comparison with performing arts centers nationally.