Kansas City PBS and ArtsKC, the nonprofit regional arts council, have teamed up to produce “Art Moves Us,” a new hour-long special exploring how the arts impact and shape our lives and community.
“Art Moves Us” premieres Thursday, April 28, 2022, at 7 p.m. on KCPBS.
Featuring captivating performances by local artists and riveting community interviews, “Art Moves Us” explores how the arts nourish our sense of belonging, overall health, learning and local economy.
“Kansas City PBS’ commitment to the arts has been at the core of who we are and what we value since we first went on the air,” said Kliff Kuehl, president and CEO of Kansas City PBS. “This partnership with ArtsKC has come at the perfect time, as COVID has reminded us of what we lose out on as individuals and society when the arts are interrupted. We’re excited to provide audiences with the opportunity to make up for lost time and enjoy the power of creativity right in their homes.”
“’Art Moves Us’ was born out of our desire at ArtsKC to continue to elevate the individual, social and economic impact of the arts, not only in Kansas City but to society overall,” said Dana Knapp, president and CEO of ArtsKC. “We work to advance lives through access to the arts for all.”
ArtsKC first approached Kansas City PBS producers with the concept of celebrating the arts in Kansas City after a challenging year for the artistic community. The pandemic impacted several artists and arts organizations due to venue closures, performance cancellations, and loss of work for many creative industries.
“I’m really proud of the work we have done while operating under COVID restrictions,” said Brad Austin, director and producer of the special. “We’ve created a number of arts programs spotlighting the ingenuity, talent, and passion of this community. Now, with ‘Art Moves Us’ and things opening back up, it’s great to see all these arts organizations and artists able to show us what they’ve been working on while theaters, performance spaces and studios have largely remained dark.”
In the special, viewers will witness moving and beautiful performances by Trinity Irish Dance Company at the Midwest Trust Center at Johnson County Community College, Mutual Musicians Foundation, Spinning Tree Theatre, Owen Cox Dance Company, and many more. Plus, hear from experts from The Kansas City Museum, University Health and Mattie Rhodes on the impact the arts have on us as individuals and as a society.
For more information, please visit kansascitypbs.org/artmovesus. To learn more about supporting and participating in the arts, visit ArtsKC.org.
Flatland, the digital news platform of KCPBS, will be sharing segments from the special in coming weeks.
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