State of The Arts 2026 is the Prairie Village Arts Council's 20th annual REGIONAL juried competition for all 2D and 3D artworks, photography, and poetry/prose held every Fall. The Exhibition runs during the months of September & October. Why is State of the Arts the biggest exhibition on the Prairie Village Arts Council (PVAC) calendar? Several reasons stand out, including the exhibition's competition aspect. The PVAC receives hundreds of applications each year, guaranteeing a wide range of artistic styles and subject matter, all entered in hopes of winning the $1,000 Best in Show award. The juried competition also selects Merit awards worth $750 each. The turnout for this show is always strong, boosted in part by the chance to vote for the $250 People's Choice award. An important part of State of the Arts' appeal is its diversity, with stunning florals hanging near traditional depictions of Kansas City landmarks, feet away from daring landscapes, incisive portraits, and abstract pieces that provoke images and feelings in the mind of the viewer. The R.G. Endres Gallery, in Prairie Village City Hall, fills every year for this event, and this year's 20th Anniversary edition is likely to be the biggest ever, with 𝟮𝗗, 𝟯𝗗, 𝗽𝗵𝗼𝘁𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗵𝘆, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗼𝗲𝘁𝗿𝘆/𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘀𝗲 artworks juried in from the area's finest artists. 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲: 1. the inclusion of photography and poetry/prose 2. a theme: 𝙍𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗺𝗲: 𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗢𝗟𝗟𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦 For the first time (or at least in a long while) we have a THEME for State of the Arts. In honor of our 20th Annual State of the Arts, we present the theme of RECOLLECTIONS. 𝑴𝒆𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒚 𝒊𝒔 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒂 𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒊𝒔𝒆 𝒅𝒖𝒑𝒍𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒍… 𝒊𝒕 𝒊𝒔 𝒂 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒖𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒄𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏. — 𝑅𝑜𝑠𝑎𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑑 𝐶𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑤𝑟𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡, 𝑛𝑒𝑢𝑟𝑜𝑠𝑐𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑠𝑡 𝑎𝑛𝑑 "𝑄𝑢𝑒𝑒𝑛 𝑜𝑓 𝐷𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑚𝑠" Selected artists interpreted this theme in their own ways.

All 112 of Rebecca Beese's watercolor bird portraits are on display, telling the story of population decline within North American birds. This exhibit is at the Johnson County Art & Heritage Center Aug 29-Dec 5, 2026. M-F 9am-5pm.

The Giggle Time Children’s Program is a beloved community tradition in Overland Park designed to get toddlers and young children moving, laughing, and learning. The program hosts a diverse rotation of high-energy performers including popular regional musicians like Mr. Stinky Feet, the StoneLion Puppet Theatre, and various storytellers and magicians. Each session is built around the "giggle and wiggle" philosophy, encouraging active participation from the kids rather than just passive listening. Because the program is free and requires no pre-registration, it serves as a flexible, low-pressure outing for parents and caregivers. The venue shifts with the seasons to take advantage of the weather: events are typically held indoors at the Tomahawk Ridge Community Center during the cooler months and move outdoors to Roe Park in June and August. It’s a great way for local families to connect while introducing children to the performing arts in a fun, accessible environment.

Dates and Performers:

Sept. 2 - Richard Renner

Oct. 7 - Mr. Stinky Feet

Nov. 4 - Priscilla Howe

Dec. 2 - StoneLion Puppet Theater

"Our minds are tireless editors. According to neuroscientists, each time we touch our memories, we change them. When we recollect, we rewrite. Certainly with art we shape and reshape our the story of our memories. And yet, even knowing we can’t quite render them precisely, we can’t stop trying to nearly capture the ineffable moments of our life."

~Traci Brimhall

Recollections is a collaborative poetry and printmaking exhibit with Kansas Poet Laureate Traci Brimhall and printmaker and graphic designer Lori Stanziola. 𝗟𝗼𝗿𝗶 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘇𝗶𝗼𝗹𝗮 Lori Stanziola (she/her) is a Kansas City based artist specializing in fine art printmaking. Drawing on her experience as a designer, Lori revels in the use of graphic shapes and patterns to create richly layered works from hand carved blocks. Her work depicts patterns, contrasts and rhythms present in land, flora and food that serve to evoke emotions and shared experiences. Lori was the featured artist for Lawrence Art in the Park in 2021, was chosen as the featured print artist for Smoky Hill River Fest in 2024, and her work/booth was awarded Best in Show at the 2026 Prairie Village Art Show. 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗶 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹 Traci Brimhall is a university distinguished professor of creative writing at Kansas State University, as well as the 2025 Poet-in-Residence at the Guggenheim and the current poet laureate of Kansas, where her initiatives have centered on uniting the state’s agricultural roots with the literary arts. She is the author of five collections of poetry, most recently Love Prodigal (Copper Canyon Press, 2024). Her nonfiction debut, The Grief Artist, will be published by Sarabande Books in 2026.

Carlos Rolón’s works operate as memory capsules and as acts of preservation. The works also serve as a meditation on impermanence, survival, and the fragile beauty of the present moment. Rolón explores how histories of migration, colonialism, environmental devastation, and cultural resilience shape both personal and collective identity. Through sculpture, drawing, painting, and fabric works, Rolón’s goal is for the viewer to walk away with a communal experience.

In works incorporating FEMA tarps, repurposed materials, gold leaf, and imagery of Caribbean flora and fauna, Rolón transforms remnants of destruction into spaces of reflection and beauty. The phrase ALL WE HAVE IS RIGHT NOW speaks to the urgency embedded within these materials. Hurricane Maria, climate crisis, and ongoing ecological and political instability throughout the Caribbean reinforce the idea that permanence is an illusion. What remains is the present moment: the act of survival, remembrance, creation, and connection. The title also reflects Rolón’s interest in devotional and contemplative space. The phrase encourages viewers to pause and become present, to recognize both the vulnerability and sacredness of life. It suggests an emotional tension between loss and gratitude, mourning and transcendence.

ALL WE HAVE IS RIGHT NOW is both a philosophical statement and a form of resistance. It acknowledges uncertainty while affirming the human capacity to create beauty, preserve memory, and find meaning despite instability. Rolón’s works remind viewers that the present moment may be fleeting, but it is also where resilience, care, and transformation become possible.

Carlos Rolón (b. 1970) is an artist whose multidisciplinary practice spans painting, sculpture, installation, and social engagement. Drawing from a wide range of materials and craft traditions, his work explores themes of ritual, beauty, spirituality, and identity, while examining their relationship to art history and institutional contexts.

Born to a Puerto Rican family in the United States, Rolón’s work often reflects personal memory and the visual culture of domestic spaces shaped by migration and aspiration. Ornament, pattern, and materiality—often associated with craft and decoration—become central elements in his exploration of belonging, cultural hybridity, and the formation of identity.

Through paintings, sculptural works, and site-specific installations, Rolón creates environments that bridge public and private space, inviting reflection on symbolism, social barriers, and the ways cultivated environments reflect histories of class, migration, and postcolonial experience.

Rolón’s work moves between exuberance and contemplation, using material and form to examine the cultural and emotional landscapes embedded within everyday spaces.

Sport and Spectator celebrates the dynamic intersection of the visual arts and sports culture, presenting an array of works that transform sports imagery and equipment such as basketballs, helmets, and jerseys into artworks. The exhibition invites viewers to consider how sports shape our society, from their impact on the individual to their broader cultural influences.

Sport and Spectator features works by Brandon J. Donahue-Shipp, Jeffrey Gibson, Raul Rene Gonzalez, Sophie Inard, Brian Jungen, Justin Korver, Betsy Odom, Esmaa Mohamoud, Hank Willis Thomas and Tyrrell Winston. Now at the Nerman Museum, this exhibition is expanded further to include additional artworks from local, national, and international collections and artists, including works by Felipe Barbosa, Sandow Birk, Zoe Buckman, Rob Carter, Benjamin Degen, Awol Erizku, Archie Scott Gobber, Hugh Hayden, Samuel Levi Jones, Esteban Ramón Pérez, and Jake Troyli.

This exhibition, originally on view at the McNay Art Museum, was organized by René Paul Barilleaux, Head of Curatorial Affairs; and Lauren Thompson, Curator of Exhibitions.

Betsabeé Romero, a Mexican visual artist known for her installations, will have three site-specific works installed in the Nerman Museum lobby, coming together to create A Field with Roots (Un campo con raíces).

A Field with Roots is comprised of three works: The Soccer Endless Resistance Column (Columna a la resistencia interminable del fútbol), The Reflection and the Trace: Around the Globe (El reflejo y la huella: Alrededor del globo), and The Serpent’s Egg (El huevo de la serpiente).

Romero’s works at the Nerman Museum engage with ideas of mobility, cycles, and the dynamism of cultures throughout history – a history where migration and cultural blending have enriched humanity, creativity, and expression around the globe. Sport is a vital part of culture, and for Romero, soccer (fútbol) specifically represents social fabric and resistance. People may not speak the same language, but they speak fútbol, finding identity and refuge through sport wherever they go.

Betsabeé Romero lives and works in Mexico City. For more than 20 years, her work has focused on creating critical discourse about issues like migration and mobility through the re-contextualization of symbols and daily rituals of global consumer culture, such as cars, tattoos, and urban signage.

She has had more than 100 solo exhibitions on five continents, has participated in numerous residencies and international exhibitions, and her work is part of several museum collections around the world.

Betsabeé Romero’s works in Kansas City, spanning both sides of the state line, are part of a collaboration between the Consulate of Mexico in Kansas City, Belger Arts, the Kansas City Convention Center, Mattie Rhodes, the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, and the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art at Johnson County Community College.

Norman Akers has been mapping the world. His large canvases are filled with an interlayered web of cartographic iconography drawn from road maps, Osage philosophy, and his own visual vernacular. Through these maps, his images have become records documenting an introspective journey, navigating spaces between home and away, tracing the temporal shifts of place, and witnessing the ecological politics of who has a right to be and to belong. Until now, Akers’s paintings have been a diary. They are now a herald. His new work is a commentary on the unprecedented, rapid ecological degradation we are all experiencing, a call to arms for us all in this latter stage of the Anthropocene.

The abstractions of place are woven from the constructed map elements, often conflating Osage homelands in the before and since Removal. The elk and the turtle are cultural references to the earth and Turtle Island (North America), respectively. Together they manifest what Akers describes as “an abstraction of the relationship that humans have to the earth’s surface.” His bold, painterly brushstrokes visualize the speed and aggression with which the decline is happening. There is no time in this space to find an acute focus. Akers calls to us to look. We must look at the land, the disruption of the earth, the exploitation of water, and our own individual roles in this brutalization of our precious earth.

Each canvas has a bisecting horizon line, drawing from cultural notions of balance between earth and sky. Akers uses the horizon line to express an appreciation, an affection, for the earth’s perfection to provide for our very lives. It is within this place, this space that we share, that the metaphoric elk witnesses the rapidly changing destabilization of all that makes our survival possible.

The elk, ever present within Akers’s canvases, stands as an Osage visual mnemonic for the earth, perceived in the humps of its back as the hills of the prairie and the intersecting movement of its antlers that mimic the flow of riverine systems. In these canvases, the elk stands as witness to our desecration of the earth’s surface. He holds court, watching us capitalize the very resources upon which we rely, making them unaffordable for those who need them now and exhausting them for future generations. The elk returns the viewer’s gaze, steadfastly holding us each accountable for our personal actions.

There is no time to look at where the damage started nor to wait for the apocalypse. Akers asks us to look at the space between, — where we are now — and to consider to what end our individual choices will benefit and harm as we move forward. Each of us is caught in the same web of being, between the past and the future, held accountable by the elk’s unrelenting gaze.

There is no absolute end to this journey, only the recognition that we are on the journey together, sharing the only life raft with the earth itself. Our survival can be mutual but is not guaranteed.

—heather ahtone, Director, Curatorial Affairs, First Americans Museum, Oklahoma City, OK

Norman Akers earned his Master of Fine Arts in Painting from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, IL; a certificate in Museum Studies from the Institute of American Indian Arts, Santa Fe, NM; and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting from the Kansas City Art Institute, Kansas City, MO.

This project is part of the initiative Home Is Where We Are: Art of First Americans. Spanning institutions across the Great Plains, it marks a coordinated focus on contemporary Indigenous art. Each organization presents a distinct project contributing to a collective that amplifies Indigenous perspectives. Participating institutions include the Chapman Center for Rural Studies; Kansas Studies Institute; Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art; Mid-America All-Indian Museum; Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art; Salina Art Center; Ulrich Museum of Art; and Volland, A Place for Art and Community — positioning the region as a destination for experiencing the art of First Americans.

The Unseen is the result of the first Nerman Museum undergraduate curatorial practicum developed throughout the summer of 2026. Each student surveyed and researched the museum's permanent collection and collectively curated this installation. Selecting Terran Last Gun's Another Human Being Experience: Return of the Unseen to Offer Guidance as a foundation, the cohort composed a central theme. The works in this exhibition represent the spectrum of humanity and encourage us to ponder the experiences that make us human.

Together, these works serve as a visual interpretation of personal and universal experiences, each alluding to beliefs, emotions, and histories. We often neglect the role the unseen plays in shaping each of us as individuals, yet while obscure or abstract, these experiences become a collection of hidden histories and memories we carry with us, shaping our perception of the world. These artworks give form to the intangible and ineffable, allowing us to perceive and engage them in the physical world.

The use of paper acts as a common thread, and varied processes, including textile, collage, drawing, and printmaking showcase the range of ways this simple material can convey meaning. Just as paper must be preserved to avoid degradation over time, the practice of retelling stories becomes an act of preservation too, keeping the stories alive year after year through our memories. Through these pieces, the threads that connect us to each other become tangible.

—Curatorial Interns: Mayte Caballero, Kai Davidson, Freya Gery, D’Naysha Lee, Sheila Njiru, Ansel Middleton, and Neema Senin

This exhibition is supported in part by a grant from the Helen Frankenthaler Foundation.

Contained by a grid, the colors of Big Blue Pink gradually fade to white within each section. What appears at first to be a simple design of misty colors is a thoughtful feminist statement. Chicago’s male contemporaries produced precise paintings and rigid sculptures that were perceived as masculine because of their hard, geometric lines. The composition of Big Blue Pink recognizes these macho conventions, which are in turn challenged by the work’s soft gradient of gentle colors. Chicago intentionally chose the gendered colors of blue and pink to reinforce her message of feminine agency. Adding another layer of complexity, she created this work with an industrial sprayer used to paint cars.

This special installation is on loan from Art Bridges.

Enjoy a special evening with your special someone as you do a one-time workshop exploring clay together. Under the guidance of skilled ceramic artists, you'll learn the basics of shaping, molding, and glazing your own unique pottery pieces. Whether you're crafting matching mugs or creating complementary sculptures, this hands-on experience will deepen your connection as you laugh, learn, and create together.

Join us Saturday evenings for Pottery & Pinot, a beginner-friendly pottery experience designed for adults (21+). Bring your favorite wine or beverage and enjoy a relaxed, creative evening while our instructors guide you through a different hand-building project each week. Projects include mugs, planters, vases, wall pockets, and seasonal designs.

No experience is necessary, and we provide all the clay, tools, glazes, and instruction you’ll need. At the end of the evening you’ll glaze your finished piece, and we’ll kiln fire it for pickup approximately two weeks later. Whether you’re planning a date night, celebrating with friends, or simply looking for a creative way to spend your Saturday evening, Pottery & Pinot is a fun and memorable experience.

Discover the brilliant world of pianist and composer Carolina Calvache, a Pan-American artist whose music seamlessly blends jazz, classical nuance, and the soulful colors of Latin American folk traditions. Praised for her lyrical imagination and bold originality, Carolina has performed at the Kennedy Center, Jazz at Lincoln Center, Birdland, and Walt Disney Hall, earning acclaim as both an award-winning composer and a captivating performer.

This concert will also feature artists from our Emerging Artists Collaborative.

Carolina Calvache - piano

John Currey - percussion

Beau Bledsoe - guitar

Ezgi Karakus - cello

Rich Wheeler - saxophone

Jeff Harshbarger - bass

In 2027, the world marks the 200th anniversary of Ludwig van Beethoven’s death. To honor this extraordinary milestone, the 1900 Building presents award-winning pianist Tatiana Dorokhova performing Beethoven’s complete cycle of 32 piano sonatas across eight concerts.

Spanning nearly three decades of Beethoven’s life, these works trace the remarkable evolution of one of history’s greatest musical minds—from the brilliance and energy of his early sonatas to the bold experimentation and profound depth of his final works.

Presented in the intimate setting of the 1900 Building, this rare complete cycle offers audiences the opportunity to hear Beethoven’s musical journey unfold over the course of eight performances and experience these masterpieces as a living portrait of a composer whose music continues to inspire, challenge, and move listeners around the world.

Whether you have loved Beethoven’s music for years or are discovering these works for the first time, this landmark series is a rare opportunity to experience the full scope of Beethoven’s genius.

TATIANA DOROKHOVA plays with virtuosity, a sensitive touch and a clear understanding of cultural context and style. She deftly performs music encompassing all eras from the Baroque to the present.Even during her formative years, despite her young age, distinguished musicians repeatedly noted the impressive maturity of Tatiana’s musical interpretations; her performances invariably left deep and lasting marks in the hearts of listeners around the globe. Today, Tatiana continues to leave strong memories as she plays concerts in the most prestigious halls of Europe, the United States and Asia.Born in Volgograd in southern Russia into a family of musicians, Tatiana began studying music at the age of 6. Her talent was immediately discovered, and it was decided that she would move to Moscow to study at the Moscow Conservatory with Professor Alexander Mndoyants, a laureate of the 5th Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. Later, she served as his assistant at the conservatory.In 2023, Tatiana joined the International Center for Music at Park University (USA) studying with an outstanding teacher – Stanislav Ioudenitch, Gold Medalist of the 11th Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. Under his sensitive guidance, Tatiana became a laureate of such prestigious competitions as the Gurwitz International Piano Competition (San Antonio, USA) Santa Cecilia International Piano Competition (Porto, Portugal), Enescu International Music Competition (Bucharest, Romania).

Tatiana Dorokhova presents the complete cycle of Ludwig van Beethoven’s 32 Piano Sonatas across eight performances at The 1900 Building.

Performance 1

Thursday, October 15, 2026

Sonatas Nos. 1, 8, 6, 13 & 26

Performance 2

Wednesday, November 11, 2026

Sonatas Nos. 19, 4, 27 & 32

Performance 3

Thursday, December 3, 2026

Sonatas Nos. 24, 20, 10, 22 & 11

Performance 4

Friday, January 22, 2027

Sonatas Nos. 2, 28, 14 & 30

Performance 5

Thursday, February 18, 2027

Sonatas Nos. 3, 7, 12 & 21

Performance 6

Thursday, March 25, 2027

Sonatas Nos. 15, 18 & 31

Performance 7

Friday, April 23, 2027

Sonatas Nos. 25, 17, 9 & 23

Performance 8

Thursday, May 20, 2027

Sonatas Nos. 5, 16 & 29

Mother & daughter duo Catherine Rodland and Catherine Carson will perform works for organ and violin, exploring folk music and the music of female composers.

Catherine Rodland is a prizewinner in several competitions including the American Guild of Organists Young Artists Competition, the Calgary International Organ Competition, and the International Organ Competition at the University of Michigan for which she received first prize. She concertizes extensively throughout the United States and Canada.

Catherine Carson, a violinist from Northfield, MN, is currently pursuing her Doctor of Musical Arts degree at The Juilliard School studying with Laurie Smukler. A graduate of the Eastman School of Music, where she studied with Renée Jolles, Catherine served as concertmaster of both the Eastman School Symphony Orchestra and the Eastman Philharmonia, and won the position for a performance of Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherezade. Catherine has also won prizes in numerous competitions, including the Young Arts, Schubert Club Scholarship, Thursday Musical, Young People’s Symphony Concert Association (YPSCA), Rochester Music Guild and Mary West Solo Competitions, and as a result of the YPSCA competition, at which Catherine won the grand prize, she performed the Sibelius Violin Concerto with the Minnesota Orchestra.

Experience unforgettable evening of music and theater close to home. This free performing arts series brings acclaimed local performers to Lenexa City Hall October to March.
2026 performances include:

Oct. 10: War of the Worlds: The 1938 Radio Script - A live radio play of the chilling Martian invasion that once shocked the nation

Nov. 14: Fountain City String Quartet - Classical precision with contemporary flair

Dec. 12: Mandolin Orchestra of Kansas City - Featuring a blend of mandolins, mandolas, guitars and bass

Coordinated by the Lenexa Arts Council and Lenexa Parks & Recreation.

The legendary Blind Boys of Alabama bring their transcendent harmonies and spiritual power to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Stevie Wonder's iconic album “Songs in the Key of Life,” featuring classics like “Sir Duke,” “I Wish,” and more. This special presentation pairs many of Stevie Wonder’s classic songs with beloved selections from the Blind Boys’ own celebrated repertoire, blending gospel, soul, and Americana in a joyful performance that honors both musical legacies.

With over 75 years of lifting spirits and moving souls, the Blind Boys continue their mission of spreading light and love through the universal language of music. In 2003, the Blind Boys earned a Grammy Award for an album that included their acclaimed cover of Stevie Wonder’s “Higher Ground,” a version later featured in film and television, including FX’s Fargo. In 2007, Stevie Wonder presented Blind Boys singer Jimmy Carter with a Vision Award for Lifetime Achievement, underscoring their enduring impact on music and culture.

Join Lienzo Piano Trio for an evening dedicated to two of Sergei Rachmaninoff's most expressive chamber works: Trio élégiaque No. 1 in G minor and Trio élégiaque No. 2 in D minor, Op. 9. Written during the composer's early years, these works showcase Rachmaninoff's signature lyricism, emotional intensity, and rich Romantic harmonies. The first trio, composed when Rachmaninoff was just 18 years old, is a single-movement work that reveals his remarkable gift for expressive melodies and dramatic contrasts. The rarely performed second trio, composed in memory of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, is a particularly moving tribute to the composer's mentor and musical inspiration.
Featuring violinist Galo Arboleda, cellist Larry Hernandez, and pianist John Livingston, Lienzo Piano Trio invites audiences to experience an evening of passionate and deeply moving chamber music. Admission is free, and donations are welcome.

Join Special Olympics Kansas, the Prairie Village Police Department, and the Prairie Village Arts Council for a special Art Show celebrating the creativity and talents of Special Olympics Kansas athletes.

Visitors will have the opportunity to view and purchase artwork created by participating athletes, with proceeds benefiting Special Olympics Kansas. A portion of each artwork sale will also go directly back to the athlete who created it.

With a goal of showcasing approximately 40 pieces of artwork, this exhibit will highlight the creativity, individuality and talents of Special Olympics Kansas athletes.

Join Special Olympics Kansas, the Prairie Village Police Department, and the Prairie Village Arts Council for a special Art Show celebrating the creativity and talents of Special Olympics Kansas athletes.

The event will take place on Wednesday, November 18, from 6:30–8:00 p.m. at Prairie Village City Hall.

Guests will have the opportunity to view and purchase artwork created by participating athletes, with proceeds benefiting Special Olympics Kansas. A portion of each artwork sale will also go directly back to the athlete who created it. The Prairie Village Arts Council will recognize several artists with special awards during the event.

With a goal of showcasing approximately 40 pieces of artwork, this evening will highlight the creativity, individuality and talents of Special Olympics Kansas athletes while bringing together athletes, families, law enforcement and the community.

Come celebrate our artists, support local athletes and experience an evening where art and inclusion come together!

📅 Date: Wednesday, November 18, 2026

⏰ Time: 6:30–8:00 p.m.

📍 Location: Prairie Village City Hall

This premier craft show and sale will be held at a new location this year with easy access from I-35 near the IKEA store. Over 42 local artists will offer finely crafted wearable fashions, jewelry, home decor and accents, fiber sculptures, pottery and much more. Also included, are a wide selection of hand-dyed yarns and kits for local fiber enthusiasts wanting to create their own works of art. Shoppers will enjoy demonstrations by local artists including spinning yarn and weaving cloth.

Creative Hand Show and Sale is presented by The Weavers Guild of Greater Kansas City, a 501(c)(3) organization, which was formed in 1954 to promote handweaving and spinning and all fiber arts in the Kansas City area.  The Guild invites learning about these traditional crafts to all who are interested and encourages, supports, and celebrates the continued creativity of our members and the greater community.