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Kemper Museum is a free art museum in Kansas City, Missouri that presents global contemporary art.

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Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art acknowledges it resides on the ancestral territory of the Osage, Kaw, and Otoe-Missouria, among other tribal nations forcibly moved to the region such as the Shawnee, Wyandot, Delaware, Potawatomi, Sac and Fox and Kiikaapoi (Kickapoo) nations. We recognize and support the continued vibrancy of Native communities and cultures today who continue to thrive, as well as the inherent sovereignty of tribal nations. We are compelled to serve and advocate for these communities in accordance with our public mission.

Kemper Museum acknowledges and respects the diversity of Native people connected to this land today. Many recognize the land and all beings who live within it as relatives. We acknowledge the earth we inhabit, the waters of the Blue River, the Kansas River, the Missouri River, and the plants, animals, and people supported by them. 

We acknowledge our responsibility to be good caretakers of the land we occupy. 

Click here to learn more about our land acknowledgment process.

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Connecting Kansas City’s Art Museums and Culture District, The Arterie is a new experiential pathway weaving together art, nature, people, and places.

The Arterie, a New Pathway through Kansas City’s Culture District

PressRelease_Arterie_10-15-25.pdf

Kansas City, MO – Connecting Kansas City’s art museums and Culture District, The Arterie is a new experiential pathway weaving together art, nature, people, and places. A partnership between Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, Kansas City Art Institute, Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, and Midtown KC Now, The Arterie leads from the new KC Streetcar stop at the corner of Main Street and 45th Street to the doorsteps of these cultural destinations. View the map on The Arterie’s website here: https://www.thearteriekc.org/map.

The Arterie Grand Opening Celebration takes place on Sunday, November 2, 2025, from 1-3pm and is open to all. At Kemper Museum, grab brunch at Oil on Linen, enjoy a guided gallery tour along with opening remarks from city leaders and partners, live music by Jamoji & the Jammers, and hands-on art activities designed to spark creativity. At the Kansas City Art Institute (KCAI), First Year Foundation students are bringing back the beloved Fantastic Hat Parade. The procession will make its way through the campus green, guiding visitors to explore the KCAI Gallery and enjoy a coffee at Café Nerman. Continue the celebration at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art for their vibrant Día de los Muertos Festival.

The Main Street Extension of the KC Streetcar, which will be completed October 24, 2025, provides a quick, easy, and free way to visit Kansas City’s Culture District, along with its free-admission museums: Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art and Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. Both museums feature outdoor sculptures and extensive indoor exhibitions. There are also restaurants, coffee shops, retail stores, and regular, year-round activities for individuals and groups of all ages.

The Arterie Grand Opening Celebration is presented in partnership with Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, Midtown KC Now, KC Streetcar Authority, Kansas City Art Institute, and the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. The Arterie design phase has been supported in part by the Bloch Family Foundation, with planning by the landscape and architecture team at Burns & McDonnell, and brand design by Carpenter Collective.

Bold. Inclusive. Contemporary. Since 1994, Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art has been a creative force in Kansas City and beyond, championing today’s artists and sparking conversations that matter. As Missouri’s first contemporary art museum, Kemper has introduced generations of visitors to the most compelling global voices in modern and contemporary art. Admission is free, thanks to the generosity of supporting members. 

Home to a growing collection of nearly 1,500 works, the museum showcases both established and rising artists, with a strong emphasis on those from historically underrepresented communities. Housed in an iconic building designed by Gunnar Birkerts, Kemper Museum offers an ever-changing mix of exhibitions, installations, and bold new projects, presenting 8 to 10 major shows each year and a robust schedule of events. Its restaurant, Oil on Linen, features an art-inspired menu by Chef Ted Habiger, who is known for his commitment to local farmers and sustainable practices.

Kemper is more than a place to see art. It’s a place to engage. From hands-on family activities and artist talks to community partnerships and thought-provoking exhibitions, the museum’s free public programs invite people of all ages and backgrounds to connect, create, and be inspired. 

Kemper Museum is an independent, nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. For more information about the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, please visit kemperart.org.

The Nelson-Atkins in Kansas City is recognized nationally and internationally as one of America’s finest art museums. The museum opens its doors free of charge to people of all backgrounds.

The Nelson-Atkins serves the community by providing access to its renowned collection of more than 45,000 art objects and is best known for its Asian art, European and American paintings, photography, modern sculpture, and Native American and Egyptian galleries. Housing a major art research library and the Ford Learning Center, the museum is a key educational resource for the region.

The Nelson-Atkins is located at 45th and Oak Street, Kansas City, MO. Hours are 10 am–5 pm Saturday, Sunday and Monday, 10 am–9 pm Thursday and Friday, closed Tuesday and Wednesday. For museum information, phone 816.751.1ART (1278) or visit nelson-atkins.org.

Founded in 1885, the Kansas City Art Institute (KCAI) is one of the nation’s oldest and most respected colleges of art and design. A premier private, fully accredited, four-year institution, KCAI offers Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees in 13 majors. Its mission is to prepare students to creatively transform the world through art and design.

For more information about KCAI’s programs, admissions, and upcoming events, visit kcai.edu to discover how the Kansas City Art Institute fosters creativity, critical thinking, and artistic growth.

Midtown KC Now is the champion and leading community partner working to support development in Midtown Kansas City. We are a 501c3 non-profit that relies on our amazing donors. We encourage the vitality of Midtown through responsible community, economic, and aesthetic development.

Media inquiries: Meg Blackburn, meg@blackburncreative.com

The Arterie, a New Pathway through Kansas City’s Culture District, Launches with a Celebration on Sunday, November 2, 2025