Building Community Through Free Access to the Arts

Collaborative Partner of Midnight Garden Publishing

May 01, 2026•2 min read

"A local Kansas City nonprofit in residence at Westport Presbyterian Church, Westport Center for the Arts is guided by the principal that "When the community creates art, art creates community."

Do you love concerts, but don't always have the cash? Do you love experiencing new artwork, but don't love the crowds on First Fridays?

Westport Center for the Arts might have your perfect solution.

WCA offers a broad range of artistic mediums including live music, visual art, spoken word, and dance.
And best of all, it's all free!

WCA's largest current program is their Brown Bag Concert Series.
This diverse series highlights local musicians of all genres on the third Friday of every month through the school year.

These events are not only about enjoying live music in a space that carries acoustics beautifully, they are even more about building community through the arts.
Before and after each event, patrons can view theongoing visual arts exhibits, speak with the musicians about their performance, and meet other arts enthusiasts over a light snack and beverage after the concert takes place.

The final Brown Bag Concert of the 2025-2026 season will be taking place May 15 at noon, and will feature the NAVO Chamber Ensemble. Attendees will also be able to view the visual art of Angie Prindle and Shannon Joy in the final week of their shows in the WCA Gallery.

Flyer for World art day with Westport Center for the Arts

The opening for that show will be taking place May 6 at 5:30 PM and will provide patrons with the opportunity to meet the artists and experience the jazz music of local musician Mike. WCA’s visual art gallery is an exciting opportunity for local Kansas City artists, being one of few programs that pay the artists to display their work.

The last WCA event of May is The Dancing Word. In The Dancing Word, the arts of dance and poetry merge to create a performing art that invites the viewer-listener into a unique, inner experience of these usually disparate arts. WCA currently hosts two Dancing Word performances a year, typically taking place late Spring and early Fall.

Upcoming WCA 2026 Events:

May 6, 2026: Art Gallery Opening: Angie Prindle and Shannon Joy

May 15, 2026: Brown Bag Concert: NAVO Chamber Ensemble

May 29-30, 2026: Dancing Word: “When to Hold On and When to Let Go”

June 13, 2026: Donor Dinner - Celebrating 20 years of activity, look at our website for details on the event and tickets!

September 19, 2026: Brown Bag Concert: Paul Davidson, bass vocals and piano

September 25/26, 2026: Dancing Word: “Shaping Souls and Society”

October 17, 2026: Brown Bag Concert: Thomas Vozzella, organ

November 21, 2026: Brown Bag Concert: Shortleaf Band: Music of the Ozarks

December 19, 2026: Brown Bag Concert: Ad Astra Duo, cello and piano

To Learn More:

Facebook - Westport Center for the Arts
Instagram - @westportcenterforthearts
LinkedIn - Westport Center for the Arts
Website - www.wcakc.org

Westport Center for the Arts

Westport Center for the Arts (WCA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts organization that provides arts events at no cost to its community. Incorporated in 2006 and founded by Scott Myers and Marian Thomas, WCA has now been providing free access to the arts to its community for an exciting 20 years. More than anything, WCA believes that “when the community creates art, the arts create community.” WCA covers a broad range of artistic mediums including live music concerts, visual art galleries, spoken word, and dance. It is a local Kansas City nonprofit organization that is in residency with the Westport Presbyterian Church, having built a long and fruitful relationship over the years. Come join us for one of our upcoming events, follow along with us on social media, and check out our website for more details on our programming: https:/wcakc.org.

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