Opening Monday, January 12 at The High Low Gallery  The High Low Gallery presents a new exhibition, “MAIN STRƎƎT: The Lost Dream of Route 66,” featuring photographs by Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer Edward Keating, opening  Monday, January 12 and 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 ...

Happy New Year! After a hugely successful holiday season, the KAF staff is rested and ready to bring it in 2026. We have a full year of thrilling programs, exhibitions, performances and development activities on the horizon—all in service of our mission to provide the essential infrastructure for the arts to thrive in the St. Louis region. On the music front, our latest development, The Sovereign, run by Old Rock House owner Tim Weber, has an incredible lineup of shows slated through May 2026 with tickets currently on sale and more being booked every day. Weekends at The Key are heating up January with some of the best party bands in St. Louis, including Proud Larry, Ghost Kitchen and Laka - the Tina Turner Tribute. ...

Throughout 2025, KAF’s Programs & Partnerships Department strengthened the Foundation’s mission to build community through creativity, access, and equitable opportunity. This year marked a period of refinement and measurable growth—expanding artist residencies, deepening community partnerships, and reaffirming the Foundation’s role as both a cultural anchor and civic collaborator in the St. Louis region. Some of the year’s community building highlights included: Kranzberg Artist in Residency Program (KAIR): KAF Residencies have evolved into a self-sustaining ecosystem of growth—serving as a national-standard model for artist development rooted in equity and collaboration and continuing to create pathways for lasting success. Saint Louis County Flag Redesign: In partnership with Elasticity marketing agency, KAF coordinated the St. Louis County Flag redesign, demonstrating how artists can shape civic identity through creativity ...

In 2025, KAF not only opened several new venues and artist spaces, but we also developed a strong strategic plan to take the district well into the future. Partnering with consulting firm Urban Impact Advisors, KAF created the East Grand Center Arts District Strategic Plan with a vision to establish Grand Center as a place that all of St. Louis gathers and that is globally recognized, building on the robust culture of Grand Center and connecting a diverse audience to great art, momentum, and opportunity.  Improvements in the East Grand Center Impact Zone are designed to complement and support the surrounding strengths and planned future growth in and across Grand Center, Midtown, and the Central Corridor. This long-term vision will be the result of a ...

In partnership with WashU CAPS and local employers, KAF recently wrapped up its ArtWorQ arts and entertainment industry career prep initiative, a hands-on program designed to prepare and connect job seekers with opportunities in the growing arts and entertainment industry. From November 3 to December 16, the program provided participants with career readiness skills and an introduction to the technical and behind-the-scenes roles that support live events, performances, and creative productions across St. Louis. Over six weeks, participants attended full-day sessions Monday through Thursday, blending classroom instruction with practical training, guest speakers, and site visits. WashU instructors guided students through career readiness topics, including math and reading proficiency, communication, and computer skills, while numerous industry professionals offered firsthand insight into real-world career paths. Site visits ...

On Wednesday, December 17, Ken and Nancy Kranzberg will be presented with the prestigious 2025 St. Louis Award for their transformational leadership and philanthropic support of the arts in the St. Louis Region. The Kranzbergs were chosen by members of the award’s selection committee.  The St. Louis Award was established anonymously in 1931 with a purpose to honor “the resident of metropolitan St. Louis who has contributed the most outstanding service for its development or…shall have performed such services as to bring greatest honor to the community. Funds were provided by the founder to maintain the continuance of this annual award. Only after his death in 1960 was the anonymous donor identified as David P. Wohl, a leading St. Louis Philanthropist who during his life ...

Photo Credit: Taylor Marrie KAF is pleased to announce the new cohort for its 2026-2027 Kranzberg Artist in Residency (KAIR) program in Visual Arts, whose 18-month residency begins in January 2026. This year’s incoming group—Song Watkins Park, Hayveyah McGowan, Kenneth Randle, and Sukanya Mani—brings a dynamic range of perspectives and mixed-method practices that reflect the evolving landscape of contemporary art in St. Louis. Throughout their residency, these artists will have the opportunity to expand their creative practices, develop new work, and engage directly with the community through exhibitions, programs, and conversations supported by the Foundation. Their innovative approaches and commitment to exploration will contribute meaningful dialogue and fresh energy to our artistic ecosystem.  “We encourage our community to connect with their work as they begin this next ...

The Market @ The Walls Off Washington Manager Eric Schoolcraft was introduced to KAF in 2016 as a part-time bartender in the Foundation’s various stage and theater venues, but it wasn’t until 2024 that he took on his full-time role helping get the Market up and running in time for the 2024 MATI Festival and Conference. He’s been at the helm of the Market ever since as the friendly face patrons are greeted with as they enter to begin a tour of The Walls or purchase KAF venue tickets and merchandise  What drew you to the organization? Bartending was a good fit as I pursued my fine art efforts more seriously. Meanwhile, I had quickly fallen in love with the KAF mission. Eight years of watching ...

A new exhibition on display at the KAF Gallery inside the St. Louis County Library’s Clark Family Branch features works by the Kranzberg 2024 – 2025 Artists in Residence. KAF has long served as a leading patron of the arts in St. Louis, aligning resources to support and advance the city’s vibrant creative renaissance. The Foundation has redefined and expanded its residency programs to offer artists the space, tools, and proximity needed to deepen their practices and share their work with the public. The residencies are influenced by artist need and evolve through ongoing assessment to ensure continued relevance and impact. This new exhibition presents recent work by past Kranzberg Arts Foundation Visual Artists in Residence including:  Felia Davenport, José Garza, Mee Jey, David Kirkman, Moraa ...

Forbes art and travel writer Chadd Scott recently put St. Louis’ art scene back in the national spotlight with his article, Why St. Louis Is A World-Class Art Destination. The article delves into the Saint Louis Art Museum’s landmark exhibition, Anselm Kiefer: Becoming the Sea, running through January 25, 2026, as a major get for St. Louis. It also explores the bevy of free art experiences offered by St. Louis institutions including the Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis, The Pulitzer, Laumeier Sculpture Park, and KAF’s own Legends’ Gallery and the Walls Off Washington.    This isn’t the first time Scott has touted St. Louis, and the Grand Center Arts District in particular. In June 2023, Scott published his article titled, America’s Most Exciting Emerging Arts District ...