April 12 - James Wilson and Friends 2-6pm
Catalyst kicks off the 2025 season at the Alcott Arts Center. James R. Wilson, Jr. invited a group of friends to participate in an eclectic collection of styles & mediums to connect with others in these uncertain times. You are sure to find something you love. From Ariele Fowler’s useful ceramics to Kevin Barnett’s photography to Ella Cole’s creations to Chris Frye’s pop culture mashups, there is truly something for everyone. KC locals will likely recognize Brandon Wilson’s designs. Sam Fuller Smith and Ben Hlavacek will have their photos on display. There might even be a few more artists involved. This be a great way to launch another awesome Alcott Arts Center season.

April 16 thru October 22 Youth Art Classes Weds. evenings 6-8pm
Weekly Arts Projects geared for All ages. $5 each class. The Alcott is NOT ADA Accessible

April 25- Alcott Booth at Turner Safe Grad Night Fundraiser 5:30-7:30pm
We will be doing Spin Art Painting to help raise funds for the class of 2024-2025 to have a FUN night after Graduation.
Darryl Woods Alcott Board member and Resident Artist will have a table with ALL of his Posters for you to choose from and get it personalized.

April- 26 Alcott’s Spring Maker Faire 11am-4pm
Join us whether you are a Vendor and want to have a booth or a Patron and want to support Local Artists and Not for Profits. There will be a variety of Vendors with us showing off their creations, stop in and do some shopping. This is an Outdoor event but we will have the Galleries Open inside.

May 10- Second Saturday’s Exhibition 2-6pm
Amy DeSitter
Adjunct Instructor UMKC, MWSU
Featuring UMKC Students
Classroom projects

June 14- Second Saturday’s Exhibition 2-6pm
Tracy Majkol
Photography

July 12- Second Saturday’s Exhibition 2-6pm
TBD

August 9- Second Saturday’s Exhibition 2-6pm
Tammy McFadden
Acrylics, Charcoal, Oil Pastels, Pencil, Photography

Ted Stevens

September 13- Second Saturday’s Exhibition 2-6pm
TBD

September 20- Fall Maker Faire 11am-4pm
Join us whether you are a Vendor and want to have a booth or a Patron and want to support Local Artists and Not for Profits. There will be a variety of Vendors with us showing off their creations, stop in and do some shopping. This is an Outdoor event but we will have the Galleries Open inside.

October 11- Second Saturday’s Exhibition 2-6pm
TBD

October 31 Best of Halloween at the Alcott 5-8pm
Join us as we share with you scenes from our Favorite Past Halloween events. Classic Horror, Tim Burton, Scooby-Doo, Ghostbusters and more!! Darryl Woods posters, candy and FUN!! It's outside, it's free and we have a great time!!

November 8-Holiday Ornament Class 2-4pm
Come create an Ornament that we can use to decorate Santa's trees at the Mayor's Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony. The ornaments will be in the photo- op with Santa and Mrs. Claus on Nov. 15th and will be returned to the creator once the event is over.
The Alcott is NOT ADA Accessible.

November 15- Mayor’s Tree Lighting Ceremony 5-8pm
Join us with the Mayor Tyrone Garner and the UG in Celebrating the Holiday Season. Lots of freebies, Live entertainment, an appearance of Santa and Mrs. Claus.
Stop by our booth and create some Art to take home.
Alcott Board member Darryl Woods will have his Famous posters for you to choose from.

December 6- Caroling Songs of the Season 1-3pm
We will gather together and sing our favorites, classics and some new songs. Hot chocolate and snacks provided. Dress for the weather, our building is cold this time of year with no heat.

This years theme is Ghost Busters! Darryl Woods has put great effort painting back drops for Photo Opps.

Volunteers will have fun making a variety of ornaments. We’ve gone and put our thinking caps on and came up with all kinds of stuff for you to get crazy making the ornaments that will adorn the two Christmas trees that flank Santa and Mrs. Clause sitting with all of the children. This will be our second year decorating those trees.

We will post pictures below. It’s always great fun.

It pleases us to no end to be able to share our existence. There are many hurdles still ahead for Alcott but with the help of the greater community we will be able to restore our wonderful building before it turns 100 years old in 2023.

Once again we will gather together to sing songs of the season at Alcott. Our Alcott board member and very talented organist Debbie Winter will play all of the songs from the past while the neighbors sing their hearts out.

Alice In Wonder Land Auditions were held March 19th, 20 & 26th at the Alcott Arts Center. We had a fantastic turn out all three days and we were able to cast all seventeen roles, ages ranging from 5 years to middle aged adults.
We are proud to say that this is another Alcott production that has family involved in more than one aspect of the production. Alcott has a way of bringing family together by supporting their loved ones through making sure they are able to be at every scheduled rehearsal, running lines or making props and costumes.

Alcott’s goal is to provide a semi professional production environment which teaches many disciplines of Theatre while making learning fun in a laid back atmosphere.

This years early summer production will once again be performed in partnership with St. Marks United Methodist Church at 6422 Santa Fee Drive, Overland Park on June 18,19,25 &26 at 7pm. Everyone is welcome to attend. We ask for a donation to see it but if you can’t afford a donation you will still be seated.

Congratulations to our Cast, we can’t wait to show everyone how talented you are and our thanks go out to our Director and crew for taking on this fun endeavor!

WOW ! Cudo’s to you. Alcott THANKS YOU go’s out to Wyandotte High School’s Suite 1886 students and every Artist that donated their Artwork to this event.

On May 1st 2021 we opened our doors for a full season for the first time since 2019 and a big reason is because there has been a great out pouring of support for our programs.

Last year Alcott was chosen as the beneficiaries of “Suite 1886’s” Funding Creativity Program

We are Very Proud to once again have their support which came in the way of working since last year to bring attention and much needed funds for our youth programs for 2021 culminating in an incredibly well thought out and executed plan for Alcott Arts Center’s reopening.

Our Opening Day was a Fundraiser co-ordinated and ran by “Suite 1886”

Join us Saturday June 26th and meet the Artist and enjoy some wonderful works of Art.
The exhibit starts at 2 and runs until 7pm. Read her bio to learn more about Tammy and what drives her.

10-16-2020

It is an Honor to partner with Suite 1886, a concept that we were first given a glimpse of two years ago. There was an opportunity presented to us during a visit with Principal Mary Stewart at Wyandotte High School in which we got to take a tour of the Suite 1886 during construction. Mr. Black was our tour guide and he explained how they planned on using each space.
Image our surprise to be picked as a partner. It also means a lot to us because some of our founding and present board members graduated from Wyandotte.

 The Alcott Arts Center has always tried to be an organization that leads through example and it’s always nice when it’s noticed. Suite 1886 is another example of how our youth can lead through example while benefiting from interaction with other people in Kansas City Kansas that share the concept of helping others before helping themselves.

When we found out that the KCK USD 500 Board of Directors had chosen the Alcott Arts Center as a partner, there was a moment of dread. Our thoughts were that the Alcott Arts Center would not live up to the student’s expectations. That was a very short-lived reaction because we realized this is what will make each group stronger and more in tune to others needs.

The students have already helped with Alcott Arts Center’s Drive – In Flamenco Dance event on October 16th 2020. There were five student interns from Suite 1886 helping everything run smoothly. They were AWESOME, methodical, diligent, and pleasantly friendly to everyone (even through the masks that they wore all afternoon).
Thank You All!

This was the Alcott Arts Center’s first of several outdoor drive – in style events that we are planning.

We can’t wait until our world comes back to something near what normal is supposed to be, when we can fully enjoy the Suite 1886 environment in person. While waiting we will be doing everything possible to bring Artistic opportunities to our community and beyond.

This is one BIG PARTNERSHIP where everyone benefits.  Yeah Suite 1886 and all of the wonderful people that have made this program possible.

THE ALCOTT ARTS CENTER WILL BE OPENING FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS SEASON ON SEPTEMBER 12TH 2020.

SHAKESPEARE IN THE PARKING LOT RETURNS! SEPTEMBER 12 & 13 2020 IN THE ALCOTT PARKING LOT.
3PM EACH DAY. WE ASK FOR A DONATION OF $5 EACH PERSON PLEASE (you can always add more).

MAKE SURE TO LEAVE YOUR EMAIL SO THAT WE CAN CONFIRM YOUR RESERVATION AND DONATION

SOCIAL DISTANCING WITH MASKS ARE REQUIRED. SORRY! :) 6 FOOT SPACES REQUIRED BETWEEN PATRONS BLANKETS AND LAWN CHAIRS. THANK YOU FOR UNDERSTANDING.

PLEASE KEEP SUPPORTING THE ALCOTT SINCE WE STILL HAVE BILLS TO PAY WHILE WE ARE IN A POSITION OF NOT HAVING THE ABILITY TO HAVE FUNDRAISERS AND EXHIBITS THAT USUALLY BRING IN DONATIONS.

MANY OF YOU KNOW THAT WE ARE NOT FUNDED BY GRANTS AND STILL NEED OUR MONTHLY SUPPORTERS TO HAVE FAITH THAT WHAT YOU SUPPORT MAKES A DIFFERENCE IN PEOPLE’S LIVES.

Alcott is proud to be able to bring “Art Where You Are At” to the west Alcott Campus lawn in our first ever "Drive In” style performance of Flamenco Dance and the music that goes with it. October 16th 2020. Don’t miss out on this fun and culturally entertaining event in your back yard. This is a socially Distancing afternoon and vehicles will be shown where to park. This production is limited to twenty vehicles and is a fundraiser, so you will need to get tickets at the web address in the poster above. Sooner is better than later in order to make sure you are right there for the fun!

A LOT!

This last December Alcott received a check in the mail from someone that we did not know. It was a donation in memory of Eric Newcomer. It was just the first donation of this gesture yet to be received.
We want to Thank Everyone that contributed to this memorial fundraiser and the Family of Eric .
Now we didn’t know if Eric had been to Alcott in the past and we weren’t sure why his spouse had named The Alcott Arts Center to be the recipient of donations in his memory. So we reached out to his sister and his spouse to find out why they chose Alcott to be the beneficiary of their compassion.
It turns out that Eric was one that wanted to make sure that he supported those that didn’t get the attention they deserve.
Here is what his husband told us:
Sorry if there's confusion on how it was decided to help out Alcott. I've been so overwhelmed with Eric's death that I haven't had the time to reach out and explain things a little better. I guess I should explain that technically it was really my choice. Neither Eric or I have/had any connection to Alcott. As his husband, I wanted to chose an organization that I knew Eric would be proud to support. Eric felt very strongly that there's a segment of our population he felt has been left behind in our society with little to no opportunity available to them. He especially felt strongly (as do I) that the current administration is choosing to leave these folks behind in just about every way as they help the rich in our society become even more rich. As Eric was very creative in his musical and artistic talents, we often talked about kids today who don't have the opportunities that we grew up with. He always said when he got more time he would like to bring music to the children who don't have much opportunity for such just because of where they were born. One way he wanted to do that was to teach those children by giving music lessons. Unfortunately life always got in the way. Knowing that, I searched for local organizations that I knew Eric would be happy to support. When I read Alcott's website, it ticked every box that I knew needed to be ticked. I really didn't know if anyone would chose to give support, but it warms my heart to know that they have and that it came at a time of need (thank you Jennifer for helping out as well). There's no doubt in my mind that I chose the right organization and that Eric would be really happy that in his passing he helped out a little. I hope that helps clear up how Eric became connected to Alcott.

This is Eric Newcomer. Our new friend.
Rest in Peace

My twin brother Eric Michael Newcomer was in High School drama club, choir, Swing Choir, Harmonnaires, played in musicals and plays in HS, was an extra in movie with Patti Duke and Martin Sheen called A Matter of Justice, did commercials for Bank IV, Cool Crest and Jiffy Lube. Did photo ad in GQ for band uniforms. Worked in LA at Buena Vista Television in distribution at Walt Disney, worked at Creative Arts talent agency, and Internet Brands. In MO, he interned at a TV station and a radio station in Columbia then in KC worked in production at Ch. 41 and Valentine Radford Advertising. He played guitar, piano, keyboards, sang, and in HS he composed his own musical piece where he played piano and sang at a school concert.  He once  won a contest from Hit Parade magazine and got to talk to Bret Michael's from Poison on the phone. Jennifer Newcomer

Alcott is looking for music teachers to help us use these funds to teach music to Inner City Children. If you are interested in helping, contact us at alcott@alcottartscenter.org.

KANSAS CITY, Kan. - Here they come to save the day! Super artists!

Darryl Woods and Anthony “AO” Oropeza are Kansas City, Kansas creators who send their awesome work around the country.

But, their hearts and souls are here at the Alcott Arts Center on 18th Street in KCK. 

It’s the 2016 Super Hero and Sport Art Exhibition!

It will be a red-carpet rollout for the show on Saturday, June 11, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., including Q&A with the artists.

When we caught up with Woods on Thursday morning, he was working on a tribute to Muhammad Ali.

Although Woods grew up drawing flowers and trees, that just didn’t provide enough action. So, Star Wars and sports took over.

In fact, Woods is a licensed Lucas Film Illustrator, which means he can bring all those characters to life for children and others looking for artistic inspiration.

Across the hall, AO was in the middle of a Royal rendering.

This time, it’s Eric Hosmer. But AO has his own creation that can do amazing things: AmigoMan!

AO uses his comic book hero to reach children in and out of school.

When it comes to homegrown art, the force is with you this weekend at the Alcott Arts Center.

KANSAS CITY, Kan. -- Friday and Saturday, May 11 and 12, FOX 4 News crews will be sharing their memories, experiences, and powerful photography from covering last year's devastating tornado in Joplin.

The event will be at the Alcott Arts Center at 180 S. 18th Street in Kansas City, KS.

The event is a fundraiser for the both Joplin disaster relief fund and the Alcott Arts Center. There will be a $5 suggested donation at the door, and you will be able to meet and talk to the photo journalists and even have the chance to buy some of their art.

http://fox4kc.com/2012/05/04/journalists-in-joplin-stories-from-the-storm/