In North Kansas City, Arts in the Park has spent the past decade celebrating local artwork, music and brews with its annual two-day festival. But aside from the typical art fest fare, stewarding the next generation of creatives has become a cornerstone of the event.
In 2018, the festival launched the Youth Art and Entrepreneurship Program, a four-week session that teaches children aged 10 to 17 how to create, promote and sell their artwork. As Arts in the Park returns to Macken Park on June 12 and 13, students of the program will debut and sell their creations to festivalgoers.
“The program has become really popular,” says Coti Meier, marketing and special events supervisor for North Kansas City Parks and Recreation. “We’re giving kids the experience and education to make a business out of their art.”…