Hard times continue for an embattled Kansas City office that hoped to usher in a new "creative-class" renaissance but now suffers another setback.
A quick roundup.
The Office of Culture and Creative Services (OCCS) was established in 2015 to lead cultural development efforts for the City of Kansas City, Missouri. The mission of the Office is to serve Kansas City residents by bolstering and catalyzing arts, culture and creativity and by leveraging the arts as a strategy for economic development, neighborhood revitalization, and cultural vitality for its citizens.
The creation of the office is a direct outcome of Mayor Sly James’ Task Force on the Arts and the convening of arts, civic and business leadership, involved in visioning processes that resulted in a community cultural plan, KCMO Arts Convergence Plan, adopted by the Mayor and City Council in late 2013.
The main goal of this office seemed to be an ambitious citywide art festival called Open Spaces. Well, that and a funky pink tree that still stands on in the urban core.
Sadly and somewhat predictably, Open Spaces proved to be an abysmal failure.
Art haters reflexively scoffed at the event but even supporters of the local creative community became skeptical when VENDORS WERE NOT PAID MONTHS AFTER THE FESTIVAL.
And then . . .
TKC reported FIRST . . . "The Office of the City Manager . . . Eliminates the Office of Culture and Creative Services."
And now KICK-ASS KANSAS CITY INSIDERS report . . .
THE OFFICE OF CULTURE & CREATIVE SERVICES NOW CONFRONTS A SERIOUS DISCRIMINATION LAWSUIT THAT THREATENS TO BUST KC'S BUDGET EVEN AFTER THE DEPARTMENT IS CUT!!!
Take any and all speculation with a grain of salt but simply check the Jackson County courthouse to find evidence of the upcoming legal fight.
For better and worse, KCMO has been on the losing end of discrimination complaints for quite some time and behind the scenes, on the QT and very hush hush this lawsuit power play seems just as threatening as any of the recent 12th & Oak defeats.
Developing . . .