ArtsKC Awards

Event Co-Chairs:

Dr. S. Marie McCarther & Dr. Marjorie Williams

Dr. S. Marie McCarther

Dr. S. Marie McCarther is an Associate Professor in the School of Education at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. She has over 30 years experience in the field of education as a teacher, principal, curriculum director, and central office administrator in urban, rural, and suburban school districts across the country.

Dr. McCarther has an enduring love of the arts. As a youth, she danced locally with Kansas City Dance Theater, the Conservatory School of Dance at UMKC, and in Europe. She studied jazz piano with George Salisbury and continues to support local dance companies and artistic endeavors. Currently, she co-founded Kansas City Dreamkeepers: Visions and Voices for the Future, an annual celebration of student voice and artistic expression around the issues of social justice and equity for students across the bi-state metropolitan area. McCarther is a strong arts advocate and believes the arts have the power to strengthen community and move people toward a more socially just society.

Dr. Marjorie Williams

Raised in the Kansas City area, Dr. Marjorie A. Williams affectionately known as “Dr. Marj” has always loved the arts. Her earliest memories are composed of participation and spotlights of her youthful performances on the “Show Wagon” sponsored by Kansas City Parks & Recreation. Throughout her life, Williams has been an arts advocate, promoting the importance of the arts in education. As an educator, she believes art can connect people more deeply to the world and open them to new ways of seeing, creating the foundation to forge social bonds and community cohesion

2020 Luncheon Honorees

Virtuoso Honoree: Mr. Lonnie Powell

We could not be more excited to announce that Kansas City Artist. Activist. And Educator, Mr. Lonnie Powell will be receiving this year’s 2020 Virtuoso Award at the Annual Awards Luncheon for his dedicated volunteerism, his artistic contributions and his work within arts education and the KC arts community as a whole.  Mr. Lonnie Powell’s personal and professional contributions to Kansas City and to our young local artists are endless! Please join us at the event  on February 20, 2020 to celebrate one of Kansas City’s greatest.

Arts in Education: Academy for Integrated Arts

At Academy for Integrated Arts, the arts serve as a catalyst for learning, achievement, curiosity and strong self-esteem. Through the arts, this KCMO charter school fosters students’ imagination and empowers the innovators of the future. We’re proud to announce that The Academy for Integrated Arts will be receiving this year’s 2020 Arts in Education Award at the 17^th Annual ArtsKC Awards Luncheon, held on February 20^th, 2020.

Arts Unity Award: The Whole Person’s Expressions Art Exhibition

The Whole Person’s Expressions Art Exhibition strives to promote artists with disabilities by featuring their work in professionally organized art exhibitions and offering innovative educational and networking workshops that connect them to the broad regional creative community. Currently in its 9th year, Expressions boasts a collection of works from a diverse group: artists using a myriad of medium, with various disabilities, from all parts of the metro area.  For that, we’re proud to honor The Whole Person with the Arts Unity Award.  An Award that recognizes an outstanding business for connecting the regional arts and culture to community life through unique programming and measurable social impact.  Thank you @TheWholePerson for all that you for this great arts community!  Join us in recognizing them this February, 20, 2020 at the Awards Luncheon.

Arts Equity: Deanna Munoz

Deanna Munoz is the CEO/Founder of the Latino Arts Foundation whom advocates for the underrepresented, underserved artist.  Bringing forth their fiercely authentic voice through the creation of an inclusive mentorship environment and educational, shared workshops while focusing on their artistic growth and development in all art genres. Deanna is a hero in our community and we’re so grateful for her work.  Please join us in celebrating Deanna Munoz at the 17^th Annual Awards Luncheon.  Deanna will be receiving the Arts Equity Award for her exceptional efforts to promote and embrace diversity, equity, and inclusion in arts and culture programming.

Arts Innovation Award: InterUrban ArtHouse

This year’s recipient of the Arts Innovation Award is InterUrban ArtHouse.  We’re so grateful for organizations such as this one that provide affordable and accessible artist space, engage the community in diverse and authentic local culture through unique programs such as art therapy, studio classes, art education and entrepreneurial skills to our local arts community. This organization fosters an environment of creativity and inclusion and we could not be more excited to celebrate them this upcoming year at the 2020 Annual Awards Luncheon.

Arts Partnership Award: Mazuma Credit Union

ArtsKC will honor Mazuma Credit Union with the Arts Partnership Award at our upcoming 2020 Annual Awards Luncheon. Mazuma Credit Union has made significant investments in our arts community and with ArtsKC, which have empowered us to fulfill our mission and in return make Kansas City a great place to live, work and play. Mazuma Credit Union knows how critical the arts are to community and they have been leading the way not just through their volunteerism and participation but also through their dollars that go directly to support, performers and artists like the ones you’ll get to see at event in February! So please Join us in thanking Mazuma!.

2020 Featured Artists

Amber “Flutienastiness” Underwood

Underwood is a Jazz flutist, educator, band director, model and vocalist. She is a native of Kansas City and has been entertaining and performing music since the tender age of 8. https://www.flutienastiness.com/

Stacy Busch

Stacy Busch, recent Inspiration Grant Recipient, is a composer and performer working in live performance with electronics. The piece she is performing, “When/Time” is part of a new music and theater production she is composing that will premiere in June at the new Charlotte Street Black Box Theater. We encourage you to learn more about her work at: http://www.stacybusch.com/

Hyeyoung Shin

Shin is an artist and educator; whose artwork seeks to create a space for sharing experiences with people. She received her Master of Fine Art From the University of Buffalo, NY and two BFAs in Printmaking and Painting from Hong-lk University and Kyoung-Sung University in South Korea. She is a 2016 ArtsKC Inspiration Grant recipient and most recently, completed her artist residency with The Studios, Inc. in 2018. To learn more about Hyeyoung Shin visit: www.hyeyoung-shin.com

ICE STUDIOS SCHOOL OF DANCE

Ice Studios is a faith-based non- profit dance studio which offers professional dance classes to students of different ages and physical abilities with an emphasis on living a healthy lifestyle through exercise and proper nutrition. You can learn more about them at: https://www.icestudiosdance.org/

David Wayne Reed

Reed is a playwright, director, producer and actor from Kansas City, MO. Plays include: Help Yourself, Jolly Rancher, Mother Trucker, Mother Trucker 2: Ride On, Peggy and Paul at the Post Office in Provincetown, and Sequoia. He has been awarded two Inspiration Grants from ArtsKC and has won multiple Best of Awards from the Pitch Weekly. http://shelflife.club/