www.artskc.org PRESIDENT & CEO ORGANIZATION ArtsKC (Metropolitan Arts Council of Greater Kansas City) is a leading cultural agency for the greater Kansas City area created to support, promote, and advocate for the entire arts and culture sector. Following its move, one year ago, to a newly renovated building in the thriving Crossroads arts district, the organization has rebranded itself as ArtsKC and is poised to move forward and embrace its vision to unleash the power of the arts. Founded in 1999, the arts council was formed in conjunction with the attempt to gain regional funding from local tax sources. Though the public funding did not come to fruition, the Arts Council of Kansas City was formed by a pioneering group of individuals, led by Chair Shirley Bush Helzberg, who saw the need for advocacy and general funding for the regional cultural sector. ArtsKC currently serves five counties in the bi-state region: Clay, Jackson, and Platte counties in Missouri and Johnson and Wyandotte counties in Kansas. Arts in this region account for $250 million in economic impact, and the area boasts over 250 arts nonprofits and 350 arts related businesses. The creative economy accounts for 4.3% of all business, twice the national average. Internationally acclaimed arts venues and performance organizations include: the 285,000-square foot Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, the Kansas City Symphony, the Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey, the Lyric Opera of Kansas City, the Kansas City Ballet, The Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, the American Jazz Museum, and the Kansas City Art Institute. In an article for the Kansas City Star, Reynold Levy, the president of Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City wrote, “The sheer variety of visual and performing arts activity emanating from a town the size of Kansas City and the generosity of individuals, foundations and corporations necessary to support it are simply outstanding. Few cities can match this track record, at least those situated between America’s east and west coasts.” The vision of ArtsKC is to build a city of great dreams and vigorous life, where everyone participates in and benefits from the arts. ArtsKC will accomplish this by bringing together people, resources and ideas through our many initiatives, events and programs. ArtsKC funds and advocates for organizations of all sizes as it serves to strengthen the arts ecology of the region through programs including: the ArtsKC Fund, ArtsKC Advocacy, Now Showing, ArtsKC Awards, and community convenings. In FY13 & FY14, the ArtsKC Fund awarded 168 grants worth over $600,000 in three funding categories: Ovation, Catalyst, and Inspirations Grants. 70% of the ArtsKC Fund is awarded through the Ovation Grants Program to well-managed, firmly established not-for-profit arts organizations that have a broad reach and impact throughout the metropolitan area. All current Ovation recipients serve a regional audience with performances, programs, and exhibitions that have a combined attendance of 2 million annually. Catalyst grants are designed to reach a broader range of organizations and programs than those funded in the Ovation category of the ArtsKC Fund. Many of these organizations who receive funding are likely to be growing and changing in more fundamental ways than the Ovation grant recipients. Accordingly, Catalyst grants are often used to accelerate or enable important changes, either in these organizations or in the communities which they serve. Approximately 25% of the ArtsKC Fund is awarded through the Catalyst category. Inspiration Grants from the ArtsKC Fund are an investment in human capital, providing direct support to individual artists and arts professionals for projects and activities that have the potential to advance their careers and build their capacity for future work. In FY15, the distribution of ArtsKC Fund grant monies increased by 43%. ArtsKC Advocacy ensures that the arts sector is seen as a viable solution to community challenges and a key ingredient to economic development. Initiatives include partnering with the Kansas City, Missouri Office of Culture and Creative Services, actively leading OneArtsKC, the cultural plan for the Kansas City region that sets forth a vision for successful cultural development, and cohosting Arts Advocacy Day at the Missouri State Capital. Now Showing is a program designed to foster partnerships between individual artists and businesses by providing opportunities for metro-area artists to display their work in the conference rooms, lobbies, and office spaces of local companies. The partnership benefits the artist who is exposed to a potential new audience, as well as the company that is exposed to new elements of creativity and inspiration. Considered one of Kansas City’s most inspiring business events of the year, the ArtsKC Awards Luncheon is attended by more than 600 leaders in the business, civic, and arts communities. This annual event recognizes and celebrates the accomplishments of the individuals and businesses who are the driving force behind the region’s thriving arts community. ArtsKC’s annual operating budget is approximately $2 million, which is expected to grow 5%-10% annually. Currently, contributed income accounts for 90% of total income ($1.7 million). The goal for 2018 is to increase the ArtsKC Fund from $500,000 to $1 million. ArtsKC’s professional and support staff of 10 is supplemented by interns and more than 200 volunteers. The President & CEO reports to the 15-member Board of Directors. COMMUNITY Kansas City, Missouri is known as “The City of Fountains” with more streams of sparkling water than Rome, Italy. Metropolitan Kansas City has a population of 2.1 million in the bi-state area. Geographically, it is located at the confluence of the Kansas and Missouri rivers and is the closest major city to the geographic center of the lower 48 states. Known for its Jazz roots and world-famous barbeque, the city has become a cultural center for the arts at all levels, a sports mecca, and is enjoying a renaissance in design and entrepreneurship. Dinner and entertainment go hand-in-hand, and Kansas City has over 100 barbeque establishments and nationally renowned competitions every year. From the roaring 20’s onward, jazz reigned supreme in Kansas City and its presence is still felt today. The 18th & Vine Historic Jazz District has clubs that are packed every night and a 17- foot bronze memorial to Charlie Parker; the Mutual Musicians Foundation has fierce, late-night jam sessions; and the American Jazz Museum features legends like Ella Fitzgerald and Duke Ellington. Adding to the excitement of the urban center is the unique Country Club Plaza, a beautiful 14-block shopping area that is modeled after Seville, Spain. This extraordinary area is filled with romantic Moorish architecture, outdoor artwork and intricate fountains. The Crown Center is just one more example of KC’s exemplary creative spirit coming alive. Part international headquarters for Hallmark Cards, part entertainment complex, it is a must for families as there is fun and inspiration throughout the entire structure. In the Crossroads District, old warehouses now house locally owned boutiques, restaurants and a thriving arts scene. During First Fridays, you will find thousands flocking to the district to tour the 60 galleries and shops that are open late on the first Friday of each month. Metropolitan Kansas City is home to one of the nation’s largest federal government centers with over 30,000 federal government employees including a Federal Reserve Bank. Additionally, many major US corporations have their headquarters in the city, including Hallmark Cards, Sprint, AMC Theaters, H&R Block, American Century Investments, and Garmin. It has two major auto assembly plants (Ford and GM), as well as a Harley Davidson motorcycle assembly plant. One little known center of entrepreneurship is the SubTropolis, the world’s largest underground business complex. Underground, the temperature remains a constant 65 degrees, a savings of 85% in heating and cooling costs for companies. More than 10 percent of the industrial space in greater Kansas City is located “down under,” covering about 25 million square feet—an area bigger than the downtown business district. In addition to being one of America’s top 10 cities for arts and culture (according to Kiplinger magazine), with the Kansas City Chiefs (National Football League), the Kansas City Royals (Major League Baseball), and Sporting Kansas City (Major League Soccer), there is something for even the most die-hard sports fans. Opportunities for families abound including the Kansas City Zoo, Worlds of Fun, and the Lakeside Nature Center. The cost of living President & CEO – Arts KC 10/6/2015 Page 2 of 5 www.ArtsConsulting.com in the region is well below the national average, there are excellent public and private schools, and there is a wide- variety of affordable housing in Kansas City and the neighboring region. Sources: www.Forbes.com, www.visitKC.com, www.city-data.com, www.Kiplinger.com, www.tripadvisor.com POSITION SUMMARY As a high-level representative for the arts, the President & CEO will seek out opportunities to shine the light on the diverse Kansas City Arts community and its exceptional cultural entities. S/he will be responsible for clearly articulating and publicizing ArtsKC’s mission to “support, promote, and advocate” to the greater community. S/he will work with the Board to refine strategic goals, initiatives and measures established by the board in 2015, and create a long-term strategic plan that will strengthen the infrastructure of the organization, and build community- wide relationships with both non-profit and for-profit partners. The President & CEO will direct the implementation of OneArtsKC, the regional cultural plan, grant-making activities, fundraising, partnership development, and the overall administrative management of the organization.