St. Louis’ newest Independent concert venue, The Sovereign, celebrated its recent opening in the Grand Center Arts District with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Wednesday, October 29. Created in partnership with and operated by Old Rock House, The Sovereign is the brainchild of Lawrence Group and New + Found CEO Steve Smith, KAF Executive Director Chris Hansen, and Old Rock House Managing Partner Tim Weber. In addition to the partners, local dignitaries and VIPs including St. Louis Alderwoman Laura Keys; Saint Louis University Provost Mike Lewis; Grand Center, Inc. President and CEO Peg Weathers; Ken and Nancy Kranzberg; and Brooks Goedeker, Executive Director of Saint Louis Midtown Redevelopment Corporation gathered at 3306 Washington Blvd. to cut the ribbon and officially welcome The Sovereign to St. ...

In partnership with local employers, KAF has just launched its new ArtWorQ initiative with the goal of connecting St. Louis job seekers with careers in the arts and entertainment industry, which currently has a high demand for qualified workers. This special workforce and employment training program is focused on practical skills and cross-sector job opportunities within the arts and entertainment sectors.  ArtWorQ is designed to create a pipeline to jobs for low to moderate income individuals in the city and county of St. Louis, as well as the entire Missouri region and is aptly suited to take place within KAF’s numerous arts and entertainment venues.  “Since 2006, KAF  has been committed to providing local, emerging artists and community arts organizations with the vital infrastructure, including space ...

When the devastating tornado hit the City of St. Louis on May 16, KAF and its staff were immediately called to action to help however possible. With MATI passes already on sale, one of the quickest and easiest ways to do that was to donate a portion of proceeds directly to the community through one of its boots-on-the-ground organizations. To that end, $10 from the sale of each MATI pass sold goes to 4theVille for St. Louis tornado relief. MATI is also raising funds for 4theVille through a special benefit t-shirt /merch collab. The shirt features imagery of a mural located at 4157 Dr. Martin Luther King Drive in The Ville neighborhood, celebrating Tina Turner’s life and legacy - specifically highlighting her time in St. ...

KAF is thrilled to collaborate with Interco Charitable Trust and Rio Vista Foundation on an exciting new initiative, PLAY STL, bringing professional St. Louis musicians out of the clubs and into the streets to be enjoyed by the public. PLAY STL celebrates the rich musical heritage of St. Louis by bringing dynamic street performances (a.k.a. busking) to various neighborhoods throughout the region. By showcasing local talent, PLAY STL highlights the St. Louis region’s diverse musical landscape, and breathes life into its communities, fostering a more vibrant and inclusive music scene. Moreover, PLAY STL supports small businesses and Main Streets by attracting foot traffic, helping to boost local commerce and revitalize community hubs. “St. Louis has a rich musical heritage with incredible musicians of all genres ...

As you may have already heard, Music at the Intersection is going to look and feel a bit different this year… and KAF is excited about the new direction as the festival enters its fifth year. Rebranded as the MATI Festival and Conference, the popular annual festival will take place Sept 12-14, 2025, and is once again planning a diverse, roots-inspired and decades-spanning artist lineup - encompassed within an epic Midtown block party - while making some significant changes to the format and festival footprint.  Format-wise, MATI is expanding from two days to three: Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Headliner performances will take place across three Main Stages: The Big Top, The Sovereign (set to open mid-2025 at 3300 Washington Avenue) and Field Stage. The former ...

One of the harbingers of summer in St. Louis is the return of the majestic red and white peaks of The Big Top to the Washington Avenue streetscape, ushering in an exciting new season in the Grand Center Arts District. Created in Italy by two of the premier tent building firms in the world, The Big Top has been a staple in the district since moving to its permanent home at 3401 Washington Ave. in 2018.  Under the Kranzberg Arts Foundation, The Big Top has found a permanent home allowing significant improvements to the venue’s production and guest experience, featuring state-of-the-art sound, lights, rigging, and video for world-class concerts, theatrical productions and more. A beloved summer tradition, Circus Flora returns to The Big Top for its ...

Over the last 10 years, KAF has been a key player in the transformation of the Grand Center Arts District, committing over $50M in capital and programming funds to support community development, placemaking, and arts infrastructure, particularly in the district’s eastern edge. Looking toward the future, KAF has a strong vision which will turn Grand Center from the most exciting emerging arts district in America into the most exciting arts district in America. Long-term, KAF will continue to serve as an owner, manager, developer, marketer, programmer, and facilitator, supporting the curation of a district that feels, looks, sounds, and tastes authentically St. Louis. The artists, designers, creatives and neighborhood stakeholders that KAF has built trust and relationships with over the years will all be part of ...

Dear Friends, All of us at KAF are deeply saddened and shocked by the absolute devastation that the May 16 tornado caused to a large area of our city, and the lives lost in this tragedy. To see neighborhoods so rich in community, culture and history reduced to rubble and their residents displaced is beyond heartbreaking.  The affected communities have produced and are home to some of St. Louis’ greatest artists and creators, and KAF is committed, now and in the long term, to aiding in their recovery in whatever ways we can be most effective. We are already meeting and in discussion with local civic leaders and community organizations to mobilize efforts, particularly with regards to housing and other infrastructure needs. We ...

Logic Systems Holdings——the premier midwest provider for event audio, lighting, and video production services —— has relocated its headquarters from St. Louis County to the city at 2233 Delmar Boulevard. With support from the Kranzberg Arts Foundation and the St. Louis Development Corporation, Logic Systems has brought its full 140-person staff to the Downtown West neighborhood development, bolstering the city’s film, event and music touring production amenities.  Interior and exterior renovations to the building are still underway. A new grand lobby features large glass panes salvaged from Chesterfield Mall before demolition and spared from the landfill. Once the renovation and build-out of the administrative offices is complete, Logic Systems will begin on the design and fundraising for Phase 2——a roughly 60,000-square-foot facility that can be ...