Charlotte Street Foundation Finds Permanent Home Near Downtown

The Charlotte Street Foundation has found a permanent home at last and plans to renovate a building at 3333 Wyoming St. into a center for its extensive arts programs thanks in part to a $10 million capital drive.

The new headquarters will include a gallery space; black box theatre; studio space for more than 30 visual artists, performance-based artists, and writers; conference rooms for community meetings and a courtyard space for outdoor performances, according to a press release announcing the project.

Construction is expected to begin in late August with a projected completion in spring of 2020.

“This project is critical to our commitment to strengthening Kansas City’s community of artists who will see many benefits including cross-disciplinary exchange, audience development, and investments in safer, more accessible and better-equipped facilities,” Amy Kligman, Charlotte Street executive artistic director, said in a statement.

“Charlotte Street will also be well positioned to host gatherings of arts professionals and visiting groups across our broad national and regional networks, exposing local artists to new partners and opportunities.”

Last summer, the Foundation moved into leased space at 1664 Broadway. The new facility on Wyoming Street in the Coleman Highlands neighborhood near downtown will bring stability to a cutting-edge arts organization that’s moved frequently during its history.

The new facility will include a courtyard that can be used for performances and gatherings. (Rendering by Hufft)

“The decision to create a permanent home for the organization and co-locate our programs and artist resources was made in consideration of long-term sustainability,” Kligman said in a statement.

“The Urban Culture Project, which provided studio space and venues for Charlotte Street for over a decade, was very dependent on heavily subsidized rent from generous partners in the downtown core.

“Times have changed and those kinds of opportunities are less readily available.”

Charlotte Street’s new headquarters and campus is possible through the support of  philanthropists and donors.

Propelled by a $5 million challenge grant by an anonymous donor, the organization kicked off a comprehensive $10 million capital campaign, led by Margaret Perkins-McGuinness, associate director/development & engagement, according to the release.

Charlotte Street hosted competitive processes in fall 2018 to select architectural and construction teams to design and build the new campus.

Hufft was selected to lead architectural design for the new facility, and Newkirk Novak Construction Partners will oversee the construction process.

Local artists who have benefited from previous Charlotte Street opportunities will have the opportunity to see the current space before construction on Saturday, August 10 at Charlotte Street’s Artist BBQ Potluck event, according to the release.

Information about the process and future updates can be found here.