A 55-year-old arts education and nonprofit organization is finally finding its first permanent home in Kansas City. Kansas City Young Audiences has closed on the purchase of an 18,000-square-foot building at 3732 Main Street in Kansas City, Mo. The organization says its new home provides a highly visible, central location for youth across the metro, with the 12 schools and more than 13 arts organizations in the immediate vicinity.
“Our presence at the Main Street location aligns with our current market position of being the premier arts education provider in this community,” KCYA Board President Qiana Thomason said. “Our new location will enable us to further our mission of providing transformational arts experiences to children from across the city, particularly children in the urban community.”
For the last dozen years, KCYA has called the St. Teresa’s Academy Campus home. Last year, KCYA began a search for its new home after learning that STA would not be able to renew their lease due to the school’s expansion.
Helix Architecture + Design is leading the design of a flexible interior space for the organization that will serve its educational, workplace, event and performance functions. The new space will include dance studios, a multipurpose classroom for art and theatre classes, a mixed-use performance and event space, and staff offices. McCownGordon Construction is providing construction management services.
Renovations are scheduled to begin in July, and KCYA plans to move into the space at the end of the year. The first acting, dance and music classes will commence in early 2017.
KCYA is kicking off a $3.5 million capital campaign to bring the project to fruition. It’s already received support in the way of a $500,000 gift from Muriel McBrien Kauffman Foundation, a $600,000 pledge from the Hall Family Foundation, and a $200,000 Challenge Grant for the building renovation from the J.E. and L.E. Mabee Foundation. Other foundation supports include Impact KC, the David T. Beals III Charitale Trust, Bank of America, and Sosland Foundation. The building purchase was financed by IFF, a Chicago-based nonprofit.
KCYA will showcase the design of its new space at a First Friday event hosted by Helix on May 6th from 5:30 to 7:30 pm.