About 
Most artists who graduate from art institutions do not have the business skills required to establish self-sustaining careers in the arts. The Arts Incubator of Kansas City is a nonprofit organization dedicated to working with these emerging artists in the development of their careers.
In addition to business workshops and consulting, AIKC provides affordable, quality studio space in the Crossroads Arts District, a community experiencing extraordinary growth and national recognition as one of the top arts communities in the nation.
Our Story
“The arts remain in a region as long as opportunities exist that allow for artists to practice and expand their own horizons.” LINC Study ‘05
When an audience views art they rarely think about the support structure behind the work. The facilities, materials, grants, inspiration, peer influence or the time it takes to put it all together. The Arts Incubator of Kansas City works to foster emerging artists by offering affordable studio space, business development, a supportive community and exposure. The goal is to turn artistic passions into viable careers. The Incubator never closes; large meeting rooms are available, computers, internet access, printers and scanners, shop services - complete with metal and wood working equipment, spray booths, a new print studio, library and even an espresso machine are at the artist disposal.
The Incubator currently maintains 47 active artist studios in the heart of the Crossroads Arts District. Installation artists, jewelry, graphic, scenic, fashion and furniture designers along side, painters, illustrators, writers, sculptors, photographers and videographers; all sharing a common space and aspiration…to build and maintain careers in the arts.
The third floor event space ushers in thousands of people who might not otherwise enter a typical art studio. These fundraisers, wedding receptions, concerts and theatrical performances not only provide extra income and exposure, but often supply artists with left over food (Cucumber sandwiches for dinner again?).
The idea for the Incubator came from sculptor, Jeff Becker in 2000, and was inspired by the business incubation model, as well as The Torpedo Factory Art Center in Virginia. Jeff knew the idea had legs and could fill a void in Kansas City’s burgeoning art scene (the tricky area between art school and Mid-career), but it took a bit of serendipitous misfortune for him to actually pull the trigger.
In May of 2001, the very day Jeff had taken a long lunch to tour the crossroads space that would one day house the incubator, he returned to find that his job no longer existed. He had been laid off. Jeff describes it as the best scary feeling he’s ever had.
The three-story brick building sits on west 18th street between Baltimore and Wyandotte streets, now flanked by cool boutiques, galleries and cafes. The warehouse has served as a number of different businesses since it was built in 1923. In 2001 it held reminisce of a direct mail fulfillment company, complete with mountains of pallets, boxes and leaflets. The mountains were eventually moved and four artists started to work out of the space in August of 2001. The events of September 11, set the art world adrift for a while, but Kansas City responded with the First Friday’s art walk in October to highlight their local artists. First Friday’s continues to grow every month and some give the event credit for spurning the revitalization of Downtown. The Incubator’s location made it a “must see” destination and more artists wanted to take part. It’s a great and rare opportunity for creatives to interact with their audience on a such a regular basis and experience their reactions, first hand, on their own turf, while the public is given a chance to view the work in the space it was created and smell the ingredients that went into the pieces and experience the shifts and leaps in an artists technique, medium, tools, inspiration and career over time.
The members of the Incubator are very motivated (see espresso machine), because of the peer atmosphere, and the myriad of programs and layers of accountability that are built into the incubator structure. All members are required to complete the Kauffman Foundation’s Entrepreneurial Fastrac for new ventures program. They must also attend ArtBiz, a 12-week, in-house professional development program that specifically addresses the challenges of an art career. Regular field trips are scheduled that tour other arts facilities and explore successful artisan’s studios and processes in an atmosphere where they have the freedom to ask, “nuts and bolts” questions they might not feel comfortable asking in a social situation. For someone to think that they’re just here for the cheap workspace, free espresso and increased exposure from First Fridays would completely miss the point. Having talent is a very different thing than having a career. Who wants to be a famous artist when they’re dead? The Incubator is a constant resource for the business of being a creative professional. Assistance is available for grant writing, proposals, goal tracking, portfolio development, press releases, as well as gallery, commission and exhibition opportunities.
The Arts Incubator is proud to have been involved in the careers of Matthew DeHaemers, May Tveit, Lori Buntin, Ada Koch, Matt Harris, Leigh Rosenberg-Ernest and many others. We continue to improve the facilities, programs and gallery in the original Incubator building and are expanding into two satellite buildings, also located in the Crossroads.
First Fridays, by Brent Crawford
I was introduced to the Arts Incubator in February of 2006. My guide was the beautiful and talented, Sarah Coker. We were on a second date. Tricky, tricky territory. I wanted to see this KC art scene and Sarah seemed the perfect guide. She explained how “First Friday” worked. How the Freight House area is great for traveling exhibits and nationally known artists and how some businesses just toss up a few paintings and unscrew a case of wine for the tax benefits and hip factor of showcasing art, BUT, if I wanted to get to the real heart of KC’s art community we had to go to the Arts Incubator on 18th street.
The streets were fairly dead, but we actually had to wait in a line to get in the front door. When I walked in the building, I was first hit by the smell of creativity. A mixture of wax, paints, solvents and saw dust. It’s the kind of scent that makes you question your choices in life. “Why am I not an artist?!” There was a palpable vitality in the air and I wanted to bottle it and take it home. We perused the gallery but Sarah really wanted me to see her two favorite artists upstairs. Not favorite artists in the building or town or the county…her favorite (living) artists in the world right here in this old warehouse. She described a brilliant abstract, landscape painter and, “This manic sculptor who sells jewelry to stay afloat but creates the coolest busts and hands you’ve ever seen.”
When I saw the work I was blown away by the quality and craftsmanship of these world-class artists. Spencer Schubert (the manic sculptor) turned out to be a friend from high school. My “Sarah stock” surely rose as he and I talked about my father, who’d been his silver smithing teacher. His sculpture is made of cold material, but seems infused with life and emotion. The busts ask questions and the hands yearn. When I saw Derrick Breidenthal’s paintings they took my breath. They seemed to capture the Midwestern landscape in a way that I’d never seen it before, but that made it remain instantly recognizable. I had a response to almost everything I saw that night. The building was bursting with talent.
I remember being truly inspired. I had a visceral response and felt the need to create. I fell in love with the building and madly in love with my tour guide. A year and a half later, I convinced Jeff Becker to rent me a studio where I could write. I also plan to marry Sarah Coker, ideally at the Incubator (at least the reception). I’ll probably have to use a ring (maybe a Coki Bijoix) but I’d like to give her some bronze hands and a two panel, landscape painting! Can I do that?
… So join us at the Arts Incubator for First Fridays! Come see our artists’ studios, enjoy the current exhibition in the Cocoon Gallery; and check out the INKubator Press.
