2021 Public Programs
Youth Programs
School Programs
Presenting Contemporary Art Online in spring of 2021, docents met virtually with 650 fourth and fifth graders in the Kansas City Kansas School District. In the fall, the fun continued for fifth graders in the Blue Springs School District, with Think Like an Artist, an online program augmented by individual Kemper Museum Art Packs. Students received the art materials at school to use during the online program and beyond it, at school, home, or when they visit the museum. The Kemper Museum Docent Program is made possible by generous support of the Family of Mary Beth Smith.
TOTs On Tuesday
TOTs on Tuesday took a hybrid approach, inviting participants to sing songs, read books, and make art with a Kemper Museum educator and a Kansas City librarian. Engaging 50 children aged 3–6 each month, the program was held either virtually with free art kits mailed to participant’s homes each or in person outdoors on the museum grounds.
Camp Kemper
Camp Kemper, a free art day-camp for children ages 6–12 with several sessions throughout the year that offer opportunities for children to learn about and make art while learning about the artwork and ideas on view at the museum.
Neighbors in the Gallery
Neighbors in the Gallery was a collaborative video project with the Kansas City Indian Center. With the exhibition Dyani White Hawk: Speaking to Relatives as its subject, the video provided insights about the work on view and ways to engage with contemporary art. The video was used in virtual classroom experiences and day camps led by the Kansas City Indian Center, and is part of an ongoing series.
Teen Arts Council
The Teen Arts Council at Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art is a teen-driven, youth leadership program for Kansas City metro area teens interested in contemporary art and community engagement. Through a competitive application process, a diverse group of teens will be selected to work alongside museum staff to develop, manage, and promote programs for Kemper Museum. In 2021, the Teen Arts Council created a collaborative Zine that featured original poetry and photography, as well as virtual exhibition that included submissions from Kansas City teen artists. Learn more about the Teen Arts Council and see their projects.
2021 Teen Arts Council Members
Rishabh Barve, Hadiyah Bayan, Andrew Cho, Ella Conner, Ashlee Dureka, Davis Hoffman, Leyna Jurco, Henry King, Katie Murphy, Aurora Nicol, Ysabella Olsen, Julia Schnittker, Eilish Ye, Kalvin Verner Jr., Arisha Vishnani
The Kemper Teen Arts Council is made possible through the generosity of Stan Bushman and Ann Canfield, Charles Helzberg and Sandra Baer.
Adult Programs
Artist Talks
Visiting Artist Talks and Panel Discussions, made possible by the Jack and Karen Holland Visiting Artist fund.
Collaborations with Medical Schools
Collaborative Care through Art and Observation, an accredited course for medical students at Kansas City University, continued the museum's six-year partnership with KCU's school of medicine. The museum educator trained KCU faculty in arts engagement techniques and docents discussed artworks with medical students to increase skills needed for collaborative medical teams. Art for Medicine, an innovative, docent-led program that launched in 2021, engages medical students from the University of Missouri Kansas City in works on display at the museum. AfM focuses on mindfulness and team communication skills relevant to clinical practice. The Kemper Museum Docent Program is made possible by generous support of the Family of Mary Beth Smith.
Talk and Tours
Talk and Tours invited participants to enjoy casual conversations with curators, educators, artists, designers, and others offering insight into their work and its connection to special exhibitions.
Guided Meditation
Guided Meditation Series participants were guided through meditation, qigong, breathing instruction, and sound healing sessions in the galleries.
Kemper Museum Trivia Night
Trivia Nights engaged themes related to exhibition in a fun atmosphere with a bar and meal by Café Sebastienne.
Creative Action Initiative (CAI)
Local leaders brought diverse communities together to make a city-wide, creative project supported by the museum. This year, CAI made a video montage that explored healing through lessons learned during the pandemic. Premiered at a community party and later displayed in the Atrium and on social media, the 6- minute movie featured local voices from a wide range of ages and backgrounds, showing the ingenuity and resilience of Kansas City's communities.
Intergenerational Programs
Museum Scavenger Hunt
Scavenger Saturday evolved into a monthly self-guided program. Each month, a themed scavenger hunt was created with clues to find works on view and prompts to engage with the works, accompanied by a take-home art kit to continue the engagement after a museum visit.
Pulse of the Holidays
In December, visitors of all ages celebrated the season with live holiday music inside the Rafael Lozano-Hemmer: Pulse Topology exhibition, art-making activities for all ages, and take-home cookie decorating kits. Performers include Seyko Groves, Dana Mitchell, and Paula Saunders Lewis, and DJ Joe.