Mural Artist Credit: Donald “Scribe” Ross. 2019/InterUrban ArtHouse
Johnson County hosts a plethera of cultural and creative opportunities where you experience the Arts. Through hands-on participation. Enjoy all the Arts have to offer whether it’s just you alone, with your family, school or work group, or others.
Our goal is to connect you, help you find, activities and resources that will enrich your day-to-day life. Let us know of other cultural attractions and activities we should list.
Johnson County Cultural Activities
Arts Councils
De Soto Arts Council. The Council hosts the “Sunflower Artfest” annually, in conjunction with the De Soto Rotary Club’s PolioPlus Project. In January 2013, began the development of the De Soto Arts Council “Arts Center.” The City of De Soto and the City Council approved the development of the Arts Center, which is located in the lower level of City Hall.
Leawood Arts Council. Visit Leawood and you’ll find many cultural activities from an Art on Loan Program to Public Art to Arti Gras and a Cultural Arts Calendar with upcoming events on the site.
Lenexa Arts Council.The official local arts agency for the City of Lenexa, the council sponsors art and cultural events including festivals, theatre productions, and events for children.
The Prairie Village Arts Council curates the R.G. Endres Gallery, which shows monthly exhibitions of local artists and host five annual juried competitions: Future of the Arts, Art of Photography, Art of the Special Olympians, State of Senior Art and State of the Arts. Click HERE for the R.G. Endres Gallery 2020 Call for Artists. In addition to ACJC’s Shooting Stars program, the council works with the Prairie Village Arts Show, VillageFest, and many other community events and activities
Multi-Discipline
Arts and Recreation Foundation of Overland Park. The Arts & Recreation Foundation offers programs that enhance the educational, scientific and cultural experiences of residents and visitors.
InterUrban ArtHouse. InterUrban ArtHouse’s primary work is to develop, renovate and re-purpose a location in Downtown Historic Overland Park as a multi-use arts space. This will be a creative hub for artists, arts-based businesses, creative industries and the community at large.
The Jewish Community Center. Offers theatrical productions for all ages, classical music concerts, modern music reviews, the Jewish Film Festival, dance classes, art classes for kids and seniors, and more.
Johnson County Arts & Heritage Center. The Arts & Heritage Center is home to The Johnson County Museum featuring the 1950s All-Electric House, KidScape experience, and the “Becoming Johnson County” exhibition as well as traveling exhibitions, The Theatre in the Park productions during fall, winter and spring, Fine and Performing Arts programs, facility and event space rentals, and so much more!
Johnson County Community College. Offers professional performances at Carlsen Center, and exhibitions and education at the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art.
Johnson County Public Library. Johnson County Library is an award-winning community resource in northeast Kansas, with a Central Resource Library and 12 neighborhood libraries county-wide.
KC Art Angels Gallery & Studio. KC Art Angels offer workshops for all ages, outreach programs, mentorship for new artists, and a space for local artists to maximize profits for their craft.
Olathe Public Library. The Olathe Public Library’s mission is to connect with customers along their journeys of discovery, serve as an anchor in the community, encourage life-long learning, and inspire personal and collective growth.
Olathe Arts Alliance. Find information about the Trails West Barbershop Chorus, Olathe Civic Band, Olathe Community Orchestra, Olathe Community Theatre Association and the Olathe Youth Symphony.
Through Olathe Parks & Recreation you’ll find many activities from Summer Concert Series to Photo Galleries, the Ensor Park & Museum, Downtown Art Exhibits, special events and more.
Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Gardens. Founded to keep the city at the forefront of environmental and ecological issues, it is an educational, recreational and cultural resource for the region.
Wonderscope Children’s Museum of Kansas City. Fun, dynamic exhibits and programs that integrate the arts, sciences and literature … a place for children to explore, imagine and know how fun learning can be!
Museums
Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead. Turn-of-the-Century family farm brings the charm of the farm to children living in the city.
Johnson County Museum. Features exhibits showcasing changes from the 1820’s to today with hands-on activities for children and adults. It’s a great place to learn about Johnson County’s history while having fun!
Epsten Gallery Foundation. Connecting Communities & Generations through the Arts, the museum provides innovative art exhibitions and related programming that engage seniors and diverse audiences from all segments of our community to enrich lives and celebrate our common humanity through art.
Lanesfield School Historic Site. “Just Plain Simple: The One Room School House in Kansas.” Learn more about the history of education.
Lenexa Historical Society. Preserves the heritage of Lenexa by sponsoring festivals and events.
Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop and Farm. This historic site’s existing stone farmhouse was built in 1865 and used as a stagecoach stop on the Santa Fe Trail. The last remaining stagecoach stop of its kind, it offers a unique hands-on experience for all.
Olathe Prairie Center. Owned by the State of Kansas, Prairie Center is a 300-acre preserve containing nature paths where you can experience the natural grasses of Kansas.
Shawnee Indian Mission State Historic Site. A manual training school from 1839 to 1862 for the children of Shawnee and other native people.
Shawnee Town Museum. An active, fun place where visitors of all ages learn what it was like to live in Shawnee, Kansas in 1929.
Performing Arts
Allegro Community Children’s Chorus. This upbeat choir program enriches, inspires and transforms the lives of children through learning, sharing and performing beautiful music of the highest quality.
American Youth Ballet. Educational charity creating a vehicle for young artists to grow and learn while sharing with the community the importance of music and dance
The Barn Players. Community theatre offering recreational, entertainment, educational and cultural enrichment opportunities.
Bell Cultural Events Center. Located at the Mid-America Nazarene College, the center serves both musicians and thespians, hosting 150 to 200 special events throughout the year, and is home to the Mabee Performing Arts Hall.
Blue Valley Recreation offers performing arts experiences for youth and teens such as Theater Adventures and Drama Kidz to Theater of the Imagination Offerings.
Chestnut Fine Arts Center. Provides voice and piano lessons, children’s workshops, theatre productions and seasonal caroling.
Christian Youth Theatre. CYT is an after-school theater arts program for children ages 5-18 including Drama, Voice, Dance, specialty theater classes, Our Gang for ages 5-7, and more with each class performing a showcase at the end of its session.
The Culture House Academy of Performing Arts. A grassroots arts organization dedicated to educating youth in the performing arts, supporting professional artists and modeling a healthy perspective on life and the arts.
Heartland Chamber Music. To inspire young musicians through the study and performance of chamber music within a community of nationally recognized artists-as-mentors.
Kansas City Wind Symphony. A volunteer ensemble of professional and accomplished amateur musicians from throughout the Kansas City region dedicated to the study and performance of classic band works and orchestral masterworks.
Leawood Stage Company. Community theatre offering musicals, plays, Shakespeare readings and talent shows.
The Martin City Melodrama & Vaudeville Company. Come visit a live, professional theater company showcasing literary classics in the historical melodrama style, plus musical revues staged as historical vaudeville shows and Komedy Kidstitute for Kids.
New Theatre. Broadway-style shows and musicals featuring stage and motion picture stars and regional performers.
Olathe Civic Theatre Association (OCTA) has grown into one of the most successful and progressive community theaters in the entire Kansas City metropolitan area.
The Theatre in the Park. America’s largest outdoor community Theatre produces Broadway Musicals every summer from June through August, offering quality, affordable entertainment and rewarding artistic opportunities.
Youth Symphony of Kansas City. This non-profit organization provides educational and performance opportunities for young musicians.
Visual Arts
Through Friends of Overland Park Arts you’ll find free concerts and family festivals, painting classes, holiday teas and more. Or simply take a walk through art in the garden or gallery.
Art at the Center, Overland Park. Art at the Center is a unique not-for-profit gallery space that offers local, regional and national artists, both professional and amateur, an opportunity to showcase their work in the heart of Overland Park.
Tim Murphy Art Gallery, City of Merriam. Presents exhibits of works by local and regional artists who represent a diversity of technique and style.
Olathe Visual Artists. Promotes local artists through group exhibits, educational opportunities and community service with several guest speakers and workshops held throughout the year with noted artists providing insight and direction on the visual arts.
Roeland Park Art Gallery. Each month the City Art Commissioner invites artists to display their work at City Hall including paintings, water colors, charcoals, acrylics, sculptures and ceramics for the community to enjoy or purchase.