KAF is proud to be STL Made and celebrate our region-wide holiday, 314 Day, on Saturday, March 14. Every day, in everything we do, KAF works to lift our local artists and provide the necessary infrastructure for the arts to thrive in St. Louis. Our artists are an integral part of what makes St. Louis so special and unique.  This year marks the 20th anniversary of 314 Day in St. Louis and we’re celebrating all throughout the district. From markets and pop ups to art exhibits, food, music, and a late night dance floor, this is a full takeover rooted in love for the Lou. Show your civic pride and join us for these exciting 314 Day events:   314 Day City Market at Sophie’s Artist Lounge: ...

Accounting and Administrative Associate Alyssa Wolf joined KAF in 2023. Her work in the arts started at a young age with her first passion—dance. Alyssa grew up performing at The Muny each summer in the mainstage shows and all across St. Louis as a Muny Kid and Muny Teen. Those experiences led her to pursue theatre and dance at the Conservatory of Theatre & Dance at Southeast Missouri State University, where she not only honed her craft, but learned other aspects of the arts as well. Working in the administrative department at the conservatory, she quickly realized that she enjoyed the production and operational side of the industry. With her combined passion for performing and her education in the business, she was eager to ...

In addition to its regular juried and resident exhibitions, KAF maintains the Kranzbergs’ private collection, built over decades and heavily focused on St. Louis artists. These works are displayed in regular rotation across KAF’s venues and spaces.. Portions of The Collection, some never before publicly displayed, are now part of a special exhibition, A Story Unfolding, on view through April 5 at The Kranzberg Gallery. Bringing them to this location represents a full-circle moment in the first physical space occupied by KAF in the Grand Center Arts District.  Female identifying artists are central this installation, which balances large-scale, room-defining work with pieces that reward close looking by artists including: Carol Carter, Sabina Ott, Tina Mion, Melody Evans, Diana Guerrero-Macia, Ginny Ruffner, Lola Ayisha Ogbara, and ...

In addition to great food and entertainment, The Key Burger Bar & Boogie offers a glimpse into the past, present and future of sports in St. Louis. In order to create the perfect atmosphere for game day viewing as well as pre and post-game celebrations, KAF partnered with art consultant and St. Louis sports superfan B.J. Vogt to curate a collection of sports memorabilia and artwork—primarily St. Louis Blues and St. Louis CITY SC—to adorn the space. “I grew up here in St. Louis. I play sports and I've been a hockey fan my entire life. I'm also a huge CITY SC fan and a member of the Saint Louis City Punks, which is one of the supporter groups,” Vogt says. He and his family ...

MATI (Music at the Intersection) is moving! Beginning in 2026, the festival and conference will take place the third weekend in July, exiting St. Louis’ increasingly crowded September events calendar, as well as avoiding future Rosh Hashanah and high holiday conflicts.  Save the date as MATI returns July 17-19, 2026, with five main stages, including The Fabulous Fox Theatre (new), The Sovereign, The Big Top, Jazz St. Louis, and Sophie’s Artist Lounge. MATI is taking full advantage of Grand Center Arts District’s world-class music and art infrastructure to deliver a fully walkable indoor-outdoor summer festival experience. MATI is now offering $99 (all fees included) weekend GA passes as a blind pre-sale at MATIstl.org or direct through MetroTix. With the new indoor main stages format (The Fabulous ...

Programs and Partnerships Coordinator Shantalle Ruiz joined KAF in April 2024 as an intern and was promoted to her full-time role in June 2025. She was introduced to the Foundation and Music at the Intersection (MATI) by a friend. She began exploring the website and previous festival lineups and was inspired to see something so vibrant and community-centered happening right in the middle of the city. While keeping an eye out for the next MATI announcement, Ruiz came across the opportunity for a Community Engagement and Impact Internship with KAF that immediately resonated with her. She’s thrilled to have grown that role into a full-time position and to be part of an organization that continues to evolve—expanding access to the arts, supporting artists at every ...

The High Low Gallery presents a new exhibition, “MAIN STREET: The Lost Dream of Route 66,” featuring photographs by Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer Edward Keating, on view through Sunday, March 15. The exhibition is accompanied by Keating’s eponymous book of 84 photographs (Damiani, 2018). MAIN STREET is the result of 11 years of travels along Route 66 — the 2,400 mile stretch between Chicago and Santa Monica. Called the “mother road” in John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath, Route 66 has inspired countless artists and writers, including Andy Warhol and Jack Kerouac. Following the path of migrant farmers and others, Keating has ventured westward and back along Route 66, documenting the lives of Americans along the way. Keating approaches the route as both a journalist and memoirist. ...

The Grand Center Arts District is officially a finalist for Best Arts District in the country in the USA Today “10 Best” Readers’ Choice Awards. This flagship awards program highlights the nation’s best of the best in various travel and lifestyle categories, including destinations, food and drink, and attractions. A panel of experts nominates in each award category, with the final set of nominees selected via editorial review by USA TODAY 10BEST editors. Once the nominees are announced, the public is invited to vote for their favorites over a period of four weeks. In addition to the Grand Center Arts District, the following St. Louis cultural institutions have also been named as finalists: Pulitzer Arts Foundation Best Art Museum Laumeier Sculpture Park Best Sculpture Park City Museum Best Immersive Art Experience ...

The Wednesday Night Jazz Jam at The Dark Room has been a staple of KAF’s community programming for over 13 years, bringing the art of jazz within reach for people of all ages and backgrounds and helping to preserve and cultivate jazz music in St. Louis. Musician, composer and educator Bob DeBoo, who has led the Jazz Jam since its inception, is stepping away, and as of this month, legendary St. Louis drummer Demarius Hicks has taken the helm of this special weekly event. Hicks will head a core trio that also includes bassist Christopher Thomas and guitarist Eric Slaughter. They will be joined by select rising-stars and St. Louis jazz legends, as well as Nationally-recognized artists touring through the region, to provide the opening ...

Director of Special Events Becky Hale celebrates 10 years with KAF in February. She came to the foundation through a longtime friendship with Executive Director Chris Hansen, who reached out to her in 2016 when he was looking for someone to manage the private events department. Hale jumped at the opportunity. During her tenure, KAF’s event venues have grown to nine dynamic spaces that host everything from weddings to nonprofit galas to corporate events and more. Hale deftly manages these events to ensure clients focus on enjoying themselves and entertaining their guests. If you’re looking to plan an event, reach out to Becky at becky@kranzbergarts.org. What is your favorite part of your job at KAF? I truly love my job. I have been in the industry for ...