You may have a new art festival to go to in Kansas City next September.
Wednesday, Mayor Sly James went before three members of the Finance and Governance Committee to ask for seed money to create a Kansas City Arts Festival.
James and one of his staff members, Jim Giles, presented the vision for the arts festival. Giles said the focus would be on local KC artists.
"We're not going to be Chicago's Jazz Festival. We're not going to be New Orleans. We're not going to be Baltimore or all of these places. We're going to do Kansas City, and do it a Kansas City way. Out of that will grow our own brand and identity," said James.
The festival would be for arts and culture nonprofits and individual artists selected from an open call for creative ideas.
The festival would feature music, theater, dance, art and design installations. James also said it would be the perfect opportunity to showcase some of the technology going on in Kansas City.
James said Swope Park is the perfect location for the festival because it is city-owned and one of the largest spaces. The festival would plan to use the park, adjacent facilities, public trails and spaces.
James asked for $250,000 out of the unincorporated fund balance of the neighborhood tourist development fund to get the project off the ground. He and Giles said it would be used for production, marketing, infrastructure and hiring a project manager.
The committee passed the measure. It will go before the full city Council on Thursday, October 6.
James also said they may have to ask for more money in the future.
James said he believes the arts festival can make a tremendous economic impact for Kansas City.
The initial budget is for $1.4 million so the festival would seek outside sponsorships as well.
Giles said the research shows the festival could bring in $1.5 million. It would not be free to the public.
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Belinda Post can be reached at belinda.post@kshb.com.
