KC Cares: Northeast Arts KC adds a splash of color

Photo Courtesy of Northeast Arts KC

Northeast Arts KC is making its corner of Kansas City a little more colorful. The non-profit has focused on bringing arts of all kinds to the public for almost 30 years.

“It definitely brings some excitement and adventure to our neighborhood. It’s hard not to appreciate your friendly neighborhood arts association,” says Scott Hobart, who has been involved as a volunteer and board member.

One of its bigger annual events is the Chalk Walk, happening this year at 1 p.m. July 27 at The Concourse Park, 200 Benton Blvd.

“The variety of stuff that can appear on the ground—some people draw, then they spray it down. They use a brush. They make it a watercolor. Just really fun, creative stuff,” Northeast Arts KC Treasurer Rebecca Koop says.

Part of the appeal for her is the ephemeral quality of the art at Chalk Walk.

“You’ve got this little mini-gallery there. It happens and then it’s gone. It’s kind of like music. You create it, you hear it, and then it’s gone in the air. It’s only in your memory,” Koop says.

Although his expertise is more in the performing arts, Hobart says Chalk Walk is actually his favorite activity with the group.

“I like to draw. It’s just fun to get a box of chalk and come up with something on the ground on a sunny day,” he says. “It’s just a basic pleasure.”

You don’t have to be a professional artist to take part in Chalk Walk, either. The sign-up deadline is July 20, and spots are first come, first served. Details can be found at northeastartskc.org.

Photo Courtesy of Northeast Arts KC

And if you’re not feeling artistic but want to contribute, Koop says they always need volunteers for the event.

During the height of the pandemic, the group kept Chalk Walk afloat by distributing chalk to individuals to draw on the pavement at their own homes, then hosting an online gallery of photos of the art people made.

The organization promotes more than one type of art. Its scope includes everything from visual and performing arts to beautifying the area through planting a community garden.

Taking advantage of the warm weather, the big annual performing arts event is the SummerDusk concert series, with upcoming shows on July 19 and Aug. 16, both starting at 7 p.m., at The Concourse Park. Koop says the series is the group’s longest-running program.

July’s performance features harpist Calvin Arsenia, while August will have trombonist Trevor Turla. The concerts bring “a good vibe” to the neighborhood, Hobart says.

“It’s fun to see the kids playing around and laughing. That’s good for the soul. I’ve seen that firsthand in the neighborhood. People wander by and say, ‘Hey what’s happening here? Let’s hang out for a while.’ It builds conversations and positive energy in a really tangible way,” he says.

Summer isn’t the only time Northeast Arts KC is connecting the community with art. It helps organize and provide materials for classes and workshops with local artists throughout the year.

Photo Courtesy of Northeast Arts KC

“They do live drawing classes. We have one guy doing a doodle class. It’s a 12-foot sheet of paper, 30 inches wide, with the community adding their doodles, drawings, and coloring it all in,” Koop says.

Over the past two years, they’ve organized open studio events for local artists, giving them opportunities to display and sell their work at the Economic Growth Gallery and the Pendleton Arts Block. Last year, approximately 12 artists participated, but Koop hopes to get more this year.

“It exposes our community to the talent that’s already here and also engages the community with art,” Koop says.

They occasionally do an Arty Barter informal meet-up—open to all—where artists can trade or sell extra materials.

With so many different outlets for arts, the group hopes to reach a wide variety of people.

“I think ultimately it just opens people’s eyes to things their friends and neighbors are doing or can do. Maybe they didn’t realize there was so much talent in the neighborhood,” Hobart says.