The Kauffman Center’s Open Doors Spotlight on Youth initiative presents Live in the Lobby, a new program designed to showcase Kansas City ensembles and individual artists. As part of the Kauffman Center’s mission to provide diverse arts experiences to the community, performance groups can now be a part of the new Open Doors Live in the Lobby program. Artists can apply to perform for audience members in Brandmeyer Great Hall prior to select Kauffman Center Presents performances. While elevating the audience experience, Live in the Lobby also connects Kansas City’s young and emerging artists to the Kauffman Center while they launch their futures in the arts.

Amado Espinoza, from left, and Andres Ramirez performing for Live in the Lobby prior to Kauffman Center Presents Punch Brothers concert. Photo by Cody Boston.

The first Live in the Lobby performance was presented by Folk Alliance International and featured Amado Espinoza and Andres Ramirez prior to the Kauffman Center Presents Punch Brothers concert on Sunday, September 9, 2018. Espinoza moved to Kansas City four years ago from Bolivia, where he found his passion for music. In addition to performing, Espinoza handcrafts instruments that are played around the world. Punch Brothers audience members enjoyed Espinoza’s and Ramirez’s performance in Brandmeyer Great Hall prior to the main event in Muriel Kauffman Theatre.

Photo courtesy of Harmony Project KC.

Harmony Project KC will be the next Live in the Lobby performers to showcase their talents prior to the Kauffman Center Presents Black Violin concert on Wednesday, October 3, 2018. Harmony Project KC is an arts-based youth program dedicated to promoting healthy development and growth of children through music. To learn more about Harmony Project KC’s programs, visit their website at http://bit.ly/2OG2wd7.

Local community groups and individual artists are invited to apply to be featured at Live in the Lobby performers at future Kauffman Center Presents events. In addition to showcasing and promoting emerging talent, the Open Doors Live in the Lobby program also provides performers with a stipend and tickets to see the headlining performance (pending availability).

Community groups, small ensembles, and individual artists can learn more and apply for Live in the Lobby at https://www.kauffmancenter.org/open-doors/live-in-the-lobby/.

ABOUT THE OPEN DOORS PROGRAM

The Kauffman Center’s Open Doors program offers transportation subsidies for schools to attend matinee programs, provides free community tickets to non-profit agencies, and designs opportunities for students to engage with Kauffman Center staff through workshops and internships. Through its various initiatives, the Open Doors program is vital to the Kauffman Center’s efforts to promote and invest in arts advocacy.

The Kauffman Center Open Doors program connects young people to the arts through three major components:

– The Open Doors Spotlight on Youth initiative contains several programs that inspire and nurture the next generation of artists, arts patrons, and arts professionals with access to the Kauffman Center’s staff, stages, and resources.

– The Open Doors Community Tickets program offers access to programming at the Kauffman Center for youth and families through reduced-price or free tickets.

– The Open Doors Transportation Fund offers funding to schools in the metropolitan area so that bringing students to the Kauffman Center for school matinee performances is more affordable.