A group of people socializing in a spacious, modern indoor area with white architectural elements and a balcony where musicians from A Guide to the Kauffman Center are playing string instruments.

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Performing Arts Center in Kansas City

Excellence for Everyone

The History & Mission of Our Performing Arts Center

What started as a sketch on a napkin and became an iconic performance hub, the Kauffman Center draws world-class performers, internationally acclaimed artists and one-of-a-kind shows.

Whatever you want to see and hear, your performing arts center in Kansas City is the place to see and hear it at its best. It is the true home of excellence for everyone!

350+

performances and events each year.

450,000+

students have experienced school matinees on our stages.

4,500,000+

visitors have attended a performance or event.

Our Vision

The vision of the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts is to enrich the lives of everyone in our community through extraordinary and diverse performing arts experiences.

The mission of the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts is to provide these extraordinary experiences through:

Programs

Showcase a wide variety of high quality programs through:

Resident companies and community partnerships.
National and international artists and productions.

Customer Service

Create devoted constituents and enhance the level of satisfaction for all who come into our venue by:

Providing a welcoming and accessible environment, from programs and parking to transactions and events.
Going the second mile to make the customer comfortable.
Exercising thorough and prompt follow-through and problem solving.
Serving each customer with dignity.

Education

Nurture love of the arts for present and future generations by:

Promoting and developing creativity through programs, activities and live performances.
Facilitating a cultural environment.
Bridging gaps between the arts and the needs of individuals, families, organizations and communities.

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.

Learn & Engage

The educational and community engagement programs created by the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts offer unprecedented access to arts experiences for young people and underserved audiences in the Kansas City metropolitan area.

The Kauffman Center’s programs contain many avenues that connect local youth and families to high quality arts experiences.

Our Impact

Kauffman Center History

The creation of the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts was more than a decade in the works.

The Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts in Kansas City, Missouri, showcases its unique shell-like architectural design under a clear blue sky. This renowned Performing Arts Center in Kansas City stands as a testament to innovative design and cultural enrichment.

The idea of a performing arts center in Kansas City was first discussed by the late Muriel McBrien Kauffman as early as 1994.

One year later, daughter and Muriel McBrien Kauffman Foundation Chairman, Julia Irene Dennie-Kauffman, began exploring the project.

Five years later in 2000, after carefully choosing a location in the heart of downtown Kansas City, renowned architect Moshe Safdie was selected to design the facility.

Five years after the breaking of ground in 2006, Kauffman Center celebrated its grand opening in September 2011.

The Kauffman Center is a cultural cornerstone for extraordinary and diverse music, opera, theater and dance performances for Kansas City and the region. It hosts dance performances, operas, plays and Broadway tours and a wide range of musical performances, from chamber music to full orchestral concerts, jazz and pop, lectures and recitals.

Designed by internationally recognized architect Moshe Safdie, the Kauffman Center has been honored as one of the world’s 15 most beautiful concert halls, which attracts some of the most renowned performers and entertainers.

Exterior view of the Kansas City Performing Arts hub, the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, showcasing its glass facade and modern architectural design.

The Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts in Kansas City is a true masterpiece of architectural design.

With its stunning glass and stainless-steel structure and state-of-the-art Muriel Kauffman Theatre and Helzberg Hall, this 285,000-square-foot performance center is the epitome of excellence in the world of performing arts. Its unique and harmonious design has earned it high praise from both attendees and renowned performers and artists, solidifying its position as one of the finest performing arts centers in the world.

The Kauffman Center is the performance home for three of the region’s leading performing arts organizations – Kansas City Ballet, Lyric Opera of Kansas City and Kansas City Symphony.

In addition, Kauffman Center Presents brings in performing artists at the top of their classes and our live-speaker series Trailblazing Talks curates exceptional photographers, scientists and filmmakers. Since opening, the Kauffman Center has offered over 3,100 performances and welcomed more than 4.5 million visitors.

The Kauffman Center is deeply committed to enriching the community through access to arts experiences and engagement initiatives. Since 2011, more than 450,000 students have attended school matinees at the Kauffman Center, with several schools utilizing the Transportation Fund, which helps to defray or eliminate the cost of bus transportation.

The Community Tickets program provides free public performance tickets to underserved audiences, as well as discounts for students, educators, seniors, veterans and military service members. The annual Future Stages Festival invites more than 650 young artists to perform on the Kauffman Center stages. Visitors of all ages enjoy free access to various performing arts experiences and interactive arts activities at the festival. Every year, the Kauffman Center also offers a variety of educational programs, including internships, educational tours, Career Center Stage and Backstage Intensives.

Mrs. K’s Vision

Mrs. K’s Vision is a short film created by Hallmark Cards Inc. in 2023 to commemorate the Kauffman Center’s many achievements in its young 12-year history and to celebrate those who helped make it happen.

Brandmeyer Great Hall, a spacious modern building features a tall, curved glass facade with vertical support beams. Inside, a red-carpeted balcony overlooks a sunlit atrium with white tables. Photo by Steve Mohlenkamp Photography.

A person playing the guitar and singing on a small stage in front of an audience at an indoor event hosted by a Performing Arts Nonprofit in Kansas City, all amidst modern architecture.

Kauffman Center Values

Excellence

When we say “excellence for everyone,” we mean it in programming, service and accessibility. Everything that can possibly enhance the thrilling performing arts experiences you crave, you’ll find here.

Experience

From the breathtaking views in Brandmeyer Hall, to the amazing acoustics and design of the performance halls, every moment at the Kauffman Center sets the stage for enhanced experiences for audience and artist alike.

Exceptional

Just as the Kauffman Center’s iconic steel shell reflects Kansas City’s best, so does the team working within this amazing structure. They provide exceptional service and care, creating a sense of belonging for all in our communities.

A woman hands a document to a female concierge at the reception desk. Two other receptionists and a man are also present in the background.

Meet the Kauffman Center Board & Staff

Both the Board of Directors and the entire staff of the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts strive to ensure that the building remains a home for outstanding performances for now and for decades to come.

Board & Staff

Contact the Kauffman Center

We’re delighted to answer any of your questions and help you make the most of your Kauffman Center experience!

A ticketing attendant in a blue vest scans a man's ticket with a handheld device while another person watches at the entrance of the building, as if turning to "A Guide to the Kauffman Center" for navigating its grand staircase in the background.

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.

Our Volunteers Are Part of the Performance

Volunteers are one of the Kauffman Center’s greatest assets. This dedicated group of community members generously shares their time to fill the 50+ shifts required for every performance.

We offer close and free parking during volunteer shifts, flexible scheduling, an excellent training program, social outings around Kansas City, special events hosted at the Kauffman Center and much, much more!

Volunteer

A person in a yellow blazer stands at a reception desk smiling while talking

Achieving Excellence in the Arts

Every performance is supported by an excellent team! Check here for open positions at Kauffman Center and join a dedicated group of arts professionals.

The Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts is an equal opportunity employer.

Careers & Internships