Crossroads Arts District
Encyclopedia
The Crossroads is a historic neighborhood near Downtown Kansas City
, Missouri. It is centered at approximately 19th Street and Baltimore Avenue, directly south of the downtown loop and north of Crown Center
. It is the city's main art gallery
district and center for the visual arts
. Dozens of galleries are located in its renovated warehouses and industrial buildings. It is also home to numerous restaurants (including one operated by Lidia Bastianich
), housewares shops, architects
, designers
, an advertising agency
, and other visual artists. The district also has several live music
venues as well.
Numerous buildings in the neighborhood are listed on the National Register of Historic Places
, including the TWA Corporate Headquarters' Building
and the Western Auto Building.
The Kansas City Star
's offices and printing facility are in Crossroads, as are The Pitch
's.
360 Architecture
and Barkley Inc.
have their headquarters in Crossroads.
In warm months, there are often a number of outdoor bands and performers. Occasionally, outdoor indie films are played.
There are more than 60 galleries in the Crossroad's district, making it one of the five largest arts districts in the US.
makers and booths offering apparel by local designers, local independent print media, and carnival
games.
method.
Downtown Kansas City
Downtown Kansas City is the central business district of Kansas City, Missouri and the Kansas City Metropolitan Area. It is located between the Missouri River in the north, to 31st Street in the south; and from the Kansas–Missouri state line east to Troost Avenue as defined by officials of the...
, Missouri. It is centered at approximately 19th Street and Baltimore Avenue, directly south of the downtown loop and north of Crown Center
Crown Center
Crown Center is a commercial complex and neighborhood located near Downtown Kansas City, Missouri located between Gillham Road and Grand Boulevard to the east and west, and between Pershing Boulevard and Union Hill to the north and south. The shopping center is anchored by Halls, a department store...
. It is the city's main art gallery
Art gallery
An art gallery or art museum is a building or space for the exhibition of art, usually visual art.Museums can be public or private, but what distinguishes a museum is the ownership of a collection...
district and center for the visual arts
Visual arts
The visual arts are art forms that create works which are primarily visual in nature, such as ceramics, drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, design, crafts, and often modern visual arts and architecture...
. Dozens of galleries are located in its renovated warehouses and industrial buildings. It is also home to numerous restaurants (including one operated by Lidia Bastianich
Lidia Bastianich
Lidia Matticchio Bastianich is an American chef, author, and restaurateur....
), housewares shops, architects
Architecture
Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...
, designers
Interior design
Interior design describes a group of various yet related projects that involve turning an interior space into an effective setting for the range of human activities are to take place there. An interior designer is someone who conducts such projects...
, an advertising agency
Advertising agency
An advertising agency or ad agency is a service business dedicated to creating, planning and handling advertising for its clients. An ad agency is independent from the client and provides an outside point of view to the effort of selling the client's products or services...
, and other visual artists. The district also has several live music
Live Music
Live Music is a reggaeton company owned by DJ Giann.-Artists:* Jowell & Randy* Tony Lenta* Watussi* De La Ghetto* Guelo Star* Galante "El Emperador"-Producers:*DJ Blass*Dexter*Mr. Greenz*DJ Giann*Los Hitmen*Dirty Joe*ALX...
venues as well.
Numerous buildings in the neighborhood are listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
, including the TWA Corporate Headquarters' Building
TWA Corporate Headquarters' Building
The TWA Corporate Headquarters' Building was the corporate headquarters of Trans World Airlines until 1964, when the airline moved its headquarters to New York City; the building is located at 1735 Baltimore Avenue in downtown Kansas City, Missouri....
and the Western Auto Building.
The Kansas City Star
The Kansas City Star
The Kansas City Star is a McClatchy newspaper based in Kansas City, Missouri, in the United States. Published since 1880, the paper is the recipient of eight Pulitzer Prizes...
's offices and printing facility are in Crossroads, as are The Pitch
The Pitch
The Pitch may refer to:* The Pitch * The Pitch - a newspaper in Kansas City* A segment in The Gruen Transfer, an Australian television show- Film :*The Pitch *The Pitch *The Pitch...
's.
360 Architecture
360 Architecture
360 Architecture is an American architectural practice focused on planning, design and execution. The firm provides services for a range of project types including corporate headquarters and commercial office buildings, sports arenas and ballparks, municipal facilities, single- and multi-family...
and Barkley Inc.
Barkley Inc.
Barkley is a Kansas City, Missouri based full service advertising agency best known for their work on Sonic Drive-In Restaurants. Founded in 1964, they currently employ 325 people; 2008 capitalized billings were $485 million...
have their headquarters in Crossroads.
First Fridays
Art galleries generally open new shows on the first Friday of each month from 6 to 9 pm. This has become one of the region's most popular regular events as thousands of people flock to the Crossroads for gallery "open houses" amidst the Crossroads's unique atmosphere.In warm months, there are often a number of outdoor bands and performers. Occasionally, outdoor indie films are played.
There are more than 60 galleries in the Crossroad's district, making it one of the five largest arts districts in the US.
Crossroads Music Festival
First held in late August 2005, the Crossroads Music Festival is an annual event organized by Spice of Life Productions, which features local music artists. The 2005 event was held at Grinder's Sculpture Park, located at 18th Street and Locust Street. In addition to concert performances, offerings include short films by local independent filmIndependent film
An independent film, or indie film, is a professional film production resulting in a feature film that is produced mostly or completely outside of the major film studio system. In addition to being produced and distributed by independent entertainment companies, independent films are also produced...
makers and booths offering apparel by local designers, local independent print media, and carnival
Carnival
Carnaval is a festive season which occurs immediately before Lent; the main events are usually during February. Carnaval typically involves a public celebration or parade combining some elements of a circus, mask and public street party...
games.
Tax Abatements
In 2007, one of Kansas City's development agencies began a program to allow property tax abatements for art-related business who would otherwise be priced out of the neighborhood by fast-rising property values. Neighborhood leaders lobbied for the program to prevent the "Soho Effect" of gentrification. Tax abatements had previously been granted to developers to attract new residents to the neighborhood with high-end condominiums and lofts adjacent to the galleries.Crossroads Art Galleries
There are over 70 galleries in the district. A few of the more active galleries are:method.
- 1819 Central Gallery
- Arts Incubator
- Blue Gallery
- Byron C. Cohen Gallery for Contemporary Art
- The Dolphin Gallery
- Grand Arts
- Grothaus & Pearl Art Gallery
- Hemingway Gallery
- Hilliard Gallery
- Leedy Voulkos Gallery
- Leopold Gallery
- The Mojo Collection
- Pi Gallery
- Studio 2131
- Sherry Leedy Contemporary Art
Crossroads Restaurants
- Grinders, operated by Stretch Rumaner